Analysis of the Comorbid Course of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure in real life: the tip of the iceberg in the sea of comorbidities. A prospective observational study

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure (HF) are two of the most common conditions treated in internal medicine. Although it is known that these diseases often coexist, the specific characteristics of the affected patients and the prognostic implications are not yet well understood. Managing patients with both COPD and HF requires an integrated treatment approach. The aim of the study was to examine the association between COPD and HF. We conducted a prospective observational cohort study. All consenting patients admitted to the Internal Medicine Department from the Emergency Department with known or strongly suspected COPD were enrolled. A total of 144 patients were included, with 47.2% of them also having HF, distributed among the various HF subcategories as follows: 10.4% with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), 3.5% with HF with mild-reduced ejection fraction, and 33.3% with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This result is consistent with the literature, which suggests a higher prevalence of COPD in patients with HFpEF compared to HFrEF. A Doppler echocardiography was performed during hospitalization. Some variables showed a statistically significant difference when comparing patients with COPD and HF to those with COPD without HF. Interestingly, the follow-up at 3 and 6 months post-discharge revealed higher mortality in patients with HF, with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 10.0 (1.2-82.2). This study could contribute to a better understanding of the prognostic implications arising from the coexistence of COPD and HF, emphasizing the importance of a patient-centered approach in managing multiple comorbidities.

The Role of the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS) in Estimating the Impact of Comorbidities on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Outcomes: A Pilot Study of the MACH (Multidimensional Approach for COPD and High Complexity) Study

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous systemic syndrome that often coexists with multiple comorbidities. In highly complex COPD patients, the role of the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS) as a risk predictor of COPD exacerbation is not known.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was determine the effectiveness of the CIRS score in detecting the association of comorbidities and disease severity with the risk of acute exacerbations in COPD patients.

METHODS

In total, 105 adults with COPD (mean age 72.1 ± 9.0 years) were included in this prospective study. All participants at baseline had at least two moderate exacerbations or one leading to hospitalization. The primary outcome was a composite of moderate or severe COPD exacerbation during the 12 months of follow-up.

RESULTS

The CIRS indices (CIRS total score, Severity Index and Comorbidity Index) showed a positive correlation with modified Medical Research Council (mMRC), COPD assessment test (CAT) and a negative correlation with forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC. The three CIRS indices were able to predict the 12-month rate of moderate or severe exacerbation (CIRS Total Score: Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.12 (95% CI: 1.08-1.21); CIRS Severity Index: HR = 1.21 (95% CI: 1.12-1.31); CIRS Comorbidity Index = 1.58 (95% CI: 1.33-1.89)).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with COPD, the comorbidity number and severity, as assessed by the CIRS score, influence the risk in moderate-to-severe exacerbations. The CIRS score also correlates with the severity of respiratory symptoms and lung function.