Identification and reduction of systemic disease secondary to COPD and co-morbidities

Categorising patients with COPD in a way that takes account of their co-morbidities is going to be important in the future.

There is a recognition that COPD is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, which cannot be explained simply by smoking.¹ COPD is associated with an increased risk of developing lung cancer² and several complications associated with COPD can be anticipated from its known biological effects. In patients with advanced disease, a low arterial oxygen tension will promote the development of pulmonary hypertension and secondary polycythaemia whilst inactivity is associated with muscle wasting.³

References 

1. Sin DD, Anthonisen NR, Soriano JB, et al. Mortality in COPD: role of comorbidities. Eur Respir J 2006;28:1245–1257.
2. Turner MC, Chen Y, Krewski D, et al. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with lung cancer mortality in a prospective study of never smokers. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007;176:285–290.
3. Debigare R, Marquis K, Cote CH, et al. Catabolic/anabolic balance and muscle wasting in patients with COPD. Chest 2003; 124:83–89.