American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine

Special Issue

COPD and Cardiovascular Comorbidity

  • Submission Deadline: 20 August 2020
  • Status: Submission Closed
  • Lead Guest Editor: Antonio Molino
About This Special Issue
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common disease, preventable and treatable, characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation, which is due to airway and / or alveolar abnormalities usually caused by significant exposure to harmful particles or gas . Pulmonary hyperinflation, physiopathologically defined by an increase in residual volume, is a common condition in patients with COPD; it manifests itself as a result of the pathological trapping of air in the lungs, following the obstruction of the respiratory airways and has been associated both with worsening dyspnea, especially during exercise (dynamic hyperinflation), and with alterations in cardiac function. Furthermore, COPD often coexists with other diseases (comorbidities) that can have a significant impact on the course of the disease. Of these, cardiovascular diseases are those with the greatest prevalence, in particular arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease and arrhythmias. The high prevalence of cardiovascular disease is related to the systemic inflammatory state associated with COPD. Furthermore, COPD is an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation. Hypoxia, oxidative stress, systemic inflammation and altered respiratory pathophysiology (hyperinflation) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation which, when present, has a significant impact on survival. The ability of the indacaterol / glycopyrronium association to induce improvements in pulmonary and cardiac function in patients with COPD and pulmonary hyperinflation has recently been evaluated.
Aims and Scope:
  1. Evaluation of the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in patients with COPD
  2. Impact of cardiovascular comorbidities on the prognosis and mortality of COPD patients
  3. Role of pulmonary desuflation pharmacological and none (pulmonary rehabilitation) on cardiovascular risk
  4. Role of the inhaled steroid on the prevention of acute exacerbations
Lead Guest Editor
  • Antonio Molino

    UOSD Malattie Respiratorie – AO dei Colli, University Federico II, Naples, Italy