title: Blood Pressure Profile and Hypertensive Organ Damage in COPD Patients and Matched Controls. The RETAPOC Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies suggest that there is a pathogenic link between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular diseases. On the other hand, increased sympathetic tone has been described in several respiratory diseases. Our objective was to determine whether hypertension mediated by sympathetic overactivity is a mechanism that explains the association between COPD and cardiovascular diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective nested case-control observational study; 67 COPD patients were matched 1:1 by sex and age to controls with smoking history. 24 hour-blood pressure monitoring, urinary catecholamines and their metabolites measurement, echocardiography, carotid ultrasound examination, nocturnal oximetry and retinography were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  classic cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities were similarly distributed between cases and controls. No significant differences for blood pressure variables (difference for mean systolic blood pressure: -0·13 mmHg; 95% CI: -4·48,4·20; p = 0·94; similar results for all blood presssure variables) or catecholamines values were found between both groups. There was a tendency for lower left ventricle ejection fraction in the COPD cases, that approached statistical significance (64·8 ± 7·4 vs 67·1 ± 6·2, p = 0·05). There were no differences in the retinal arteriovenous ratio, the carotid intima-media thickness, or the number of carotid plaques, between cases and controls. Fibrinogen values were higher in the COPD group (378·4 ± 69·6 vs 352·2 ± 45·6 mg/dL, p = 0·01) and mean nocturnal oxygen saturation values were lower for COPD patients (89·0 ± 4·07 vs 92·3 ± 2·2%, p < 0·0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypertension induced by sympathetic overactivity does not seem to be a mechanism that could explain the association between COPD and cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Medicine Service, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Golpe
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Service, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mateos-Colino
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Service, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Testa-Fernández
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Service, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pena-Seijo
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Service, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Enríquez
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Service, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González-Juanatey
authors.affiliation: EOXI Lugo, Cervo e Monforte de Lemos, Galician Health Service, Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Martín-Vázquez
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Service, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pose-Reino
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Service, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Domínguez-Pin
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Service, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Calle Dr. Ulises Romero n°1, 27003, Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garnacho-Gayarre
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Medicine Service, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Pérez-de-Llano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines