Coexistent Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-Heart Failure: Mechanisms, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Dilemmas

摘要: Mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is more often due to cardiac rather than respiratory causes. The coexistence of heart failure (HF) and COPD frequent but remains under-diagnosed. Both conditions share several similarities including the age population affected, a common risk factor smoking symptoms exertional dyspnoea. There also strong possibility promoting atherosclerotic vascular through systemic inflammation. are punctuated by episodes acute exacerbations from time where differentiation between these two can be especially challenging. Although common, often, only one diagnosed resulting under-treatment unsatisfactory response. Awareness co-occurrence essential among both pulmonologists cardiologists high index suspicion should maintained. HF poses challenges management. Active search for second using clinical examination supplemented with specialised investigations plasma natriuretic peptides, lung function testing echocardiography carried out followed appropriate Issues such as adverse effects drugs on or need sorted studies coexistent COPD-HF patients. Caution advised use β 2 -agonists when present, so exacerbations. On current evidence, beneficial selective 1 -blockers not denied stable patients who have COPD-HF. prognosis poorer that either alone. A favourable response patient depends proper evaluation severity each management judicious medication. [Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci 2010;52:225-238]