Abstract
Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes various comorbidities. Among them, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events are the most important comorbidities. Less is known about the role of reduced lung function in predicting atrial fibrillation (AF) and other arrhythmias. We analyzed the concurrent frequency of arrhythmias, and examined the causal relationship between subsequent cardiovascular events in patients with COPD.
Methods: We investigated the relationship between forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and a risk of arrhythmias in a prospective study from October 2007 to June 2012 in Hokkaido Erimo public clinic, located in the northern part of Japan. We conducted an analysis of electrocardiogram in 127 patients with COPD (96 men, 31 women, age 78 ± 12 (mean ± SD), GOLD stageI: 41,II: 59,III: 18, IV: 9)
Results: We found 20 arrhythmias: AF 11 (8.7%), IIdegree atrioventricular block (Wenckebach type) 5 (3.9%), IIIdegree atrioventricular block 3 (2.4%), sick sinus syndrome 1 (0.8%). We performed pacemaker implantation for III degree atrioventricular block and sick sinus syndrome patients. During this study period, fatal cardiovascular events were not observed. Conclusions: The ratio of arrhythmias in COPD patients is relatively higher than those healthy persons. These arrhythmias may cause further cardiovascular events. Therefore, the early detection and treatments contribute to the prevention of complications and comorbidities.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015