COPD Comorbidities

Since the number of pre-existing co-morbidities in patient's with COPD is associated with increased hospital mortality, I thought I would make a list of some of the most common COPD co-morbidities, many of which are caused by increased inflammatory mediators in the circulation as a result of inhaling cigarette smoke.

1. Hypertension
2. Diabetes
3. Coronary artery disease
4. Congested Heart Failure
5. Pulmonary infections such as pneumonia
6. Cancer
7. Pulmonary Vascular Disease
8. Atrial Fibrillation
9. Skeletal Muscle wasting and cachexia
10. Osteoporosis
11. Normocytic anemia
12. Metabolic syndrome
13. Depression
14. Confusion and Dementia

There are also other co-morbidities that are associated with increased mortality risk.

1. Chronic Renal Failure
2. Cor Pulmonale
3. Pulmonary Vascular Disease

References:

1. Hanania, Nicola A., Amir Sharafkhaneh, editors, “COPD: A Guide to Diagnosis and Clinical Management,” 2011, New York, London, Springer, Dordrecht Heidelberg, pages 9-10
2. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), “Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease,” updated 2014, http://www.goldcopd.org/uploads/users/files/GOLD_Report2014_Feb07.pdf, accessed 4/10/14, page 7

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