Cardiovascular Disease in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a major respiratory disease and global health problem. Many deaths in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are due to cardiovascular disease, and clinical outcomes are worse when patients have both. This work starts by reviewing the overlap between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease. A new advanced computed tomography technique was developed to diagnose cardiovascular disease. This was applied in a group of hospitalised patients who were admitted with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, generating insights into cardiovascular disease in this population, and how outcomes can be improved.