Risk of cardiovascular events after an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: results from the EXACOS-CV cohort study using the PHARMO Data Network in the Netherlands

Karin M A Swart*, Brenda N Baak, Louise Lemmens, Fernie J A Penning-van Beest, Camilla Bengtsson, Muriel Lobier, Fabian Hoti, Dina Vojinovic, Lindy van Burk, Kirsty Rhodes, Edeltraut Garbe, Ron M C Herings, Clementine Nordon, Sami O Simons

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: People living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have an increased risk of experiencing cardiovascular (CV) events, particularly after an exacerbation. Such CV burden is not yet known for incident COPD patients. We examined the risk of severe CV events in incident COPD patients in periods following either moderate and/or severe exacerbations. METHODS: Persons aged?=?40 years with an incident COPD diagnosis from the PHARMO Data Network were included. Exposed time periods included 1-7, 8-14, 15-30, 31-180 and 181-365 days following an exacerbation. Moderate exacerbations were defined as those managed in outpatient settings; severe exacerbations as those requiring hospitalisation. The outcome was a composite of time to first severe CV event (acute coronary syndrome, heart failure decompensation, cerebral ischaemia, or arrhythmia) or death. Hazard ratios (HR) were estimated for association between each exposed period and outcome. RESULTS: 8020 patients with newly diagnosed COPD were identified. 2234 patients (28%) had?=?1 exacerbation, 631 patients (8%) had a non-fatal CV event, and 461 patients (5%) died during a median follow-up of 36 months. The risk of experiencing the composite outcome was increased following a moderate/severe exacerbation as compared to time periods of stable disease [range of HR: from 15.3 (95% confidence interval 11.8-20.0) in days 1-7 to 1.3 (1.0-1.8) in days 181-365]. After a moderate exacerbation, the risk was increased over the first 180 days [HR 2.5 (1.3-4.8) in days 1-7 to 1.6 (1.3-2.1) in days 31-180]. After a severe exacerbation, the risk increased substantially and remained higher over the year following the exacerbation [HR 48.6 (36.9-64.0) in days 1-7 down to 1.6 (1.0-2.6) in days 181-365]. Increase in risk concerned all categories of severe CV events. CONCLUSIONS: Among incident COPD patients, we observed a substantial risk increase of severe CV events or all-cause death following either a moderate or severe exacerbation of COPD. Increase in risk was highest in the initial period following an exacerbation. These findings highlight the significant cardiopulmonary burden among people living with COPD even with a new diagnosis.
Original languageEnglish
Article number293
Number of pages10
JournalRespiratory Research
Volume24
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Nov 2023

Keywords

  • COPD
  • Cardiopulmonary risk
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Exacerbation
  • Retrospective cohort study
  • Humans
  • Cohort Studies
  • Netherlands/epidemiology
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/diagnosis epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases/diagnosis epidemiology
  • Disease Progression

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