title: Arterial stiffness in COPD.
abstract: In patients with COPD, cardiovascular diseases are the most common concomitant chronic diseases, a leading cause of hospitalization, and one of the main causes of death. A close connection exists between COPD and cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular risk scores aim to predict the effect of cardiovascular comorbidities on COPD mortality, but there is a need to better characterize occult and suboccult cardiovascular disease, even in patients with mild to moderate COPD. Among various surrogate markers of cardiovascular risk, arterial stiffness plays a central role and is a strong independent predictor of cardiovascular events beyond classic cardiovascular risk factors. Its measurement is highly suitable, validated, and relatively easy to perform in routine COPD clinical practice. The growing awareness of the increased cardiovascular risk associated with COPD has led to a call for respiratory physicians to measure arterial pulse wave velocity in routine practice. Cross-sectional data establish elevated arterial stiffness as being independently linked to COPD. Candidate mechanisms have been proposed, but surprisingly, only limited data are available regarding the impact of the different COPD treatment modalities on arterial stiffness, although initial studies have suggested a significant positive impact. In this review, we present the various surrogate markers of cardiovascular morbidity in COPD and the central role of arterial stiffness and the underlying mechanisms explaining vascular remodeling in COPD. We also consider the therapeutic impact of COPD medications and exercise training on arterial stiffness and the assessments that should be implemented in COPD care and follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble, France; INSERM HP2 (U1042), Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vivodtzev
authors.affiliation: Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble, France; INSERM HP2 (U1042), Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tamisier
authors.affiliation: Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble, France; Department of Cardiology, Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Baguet
authors.affiliation: Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble, France; INSERM HP2 (U1042), Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Jean Christian
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Borel
authors.affiliation: Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble, France; INSERM HP2 (U1042), Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble, France; INSERM HP2 (U1042), Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble, France. Electronic address: JPepin@chu-grenoble.fr.
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pépin
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness