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The Egyptian Journal of Bronchology
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Cardiac evaluation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using echocardiography

Egyptian Journal of Bronchology volume 13, pages 12–16 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant cause of death. Cardiovascular disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in COPD.

Aim

We used echocardiography to evaluate cardiac function in patients with COPD and correlated echocardiographic findings with COPD severity.

Patients and methods

We performed a prospective cross-sectional study on 60 patients with stable COPD who presented to the Abbasia Chest Hospital during the period from November 2016 till August 2017. Spirometry was performed for all participants using American and European Thoracic Society (2005) recommendations. They were classified according to GOLD guidelines (2017) and evaluated by two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography according to American and European Association of Echocardiography ASE recommendations.

Results

Echocardiographic examination of left ventricular functions revealed no cases of left ventricular systolic dysfunction, but left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was found in ~25%. Right ventricle dilatation was found in ~18% of the patients. Tricuspid regurge was seen in ~75%, with variable grades from mild to severe. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) was found in ~40% of the patients. It was more prevalent in patients with severe and very severe disease. Correlation between echocardiographic findings and severity of COPD revealed significant positive correlation only with right ventricle size, tricuspid regurgitation, and PH.

Conclusion

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction appears to be frequent in patients with COPD, but it is not related to the disease severity. Abnormal right heart changes could be expected. Presence of PH has a linear relationship with COPD severity.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    Yasser Moustfa Mohammed (Professor of Chest Diseases, Head of Chest Department)

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    Ghada Samir ElShahid (Professor of Cardiac Diseases)

  3. Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    Nehad Mohammed Osman (Assistant Professor of Chest Diseases)

  4. Pulmonology Resident, Al Abbasia Chest Hospital, 11111, Cairo, Egypt

    Nehal Qadry Abd ElHameed

Authors
  1. Yasser Moustfa Mohammed
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  2. Ghada Samir ElShahid
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  3. Nehad Mohammed Osman
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  4. Nehal Qadry Abd ElHameed
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nehal Qadry Abd ElHameed.

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Mohammed, Y.M., ElShahid, G.S., Osman, N.M. et al. Cardiac evaluation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using echocardiography. Egypt J Bronchol 13, 12–16 (2019). https://doi.org/10.4103/ejb.ejb_2_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ejb.ejb_2_18

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