Like chronic heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an enormous public health problem in industrialized countries. Our aim was to determine the prevalence and clinical impact of COPD among patients hospitalized for heart failure in a community hospital serving a population of 125,000 people. : COPD is frequent among hospitalized patients with heart failure. Beta-blockers are largely underused, which is probably a major reason for the higher mortality observed in patients with concomitant chronic heart failure and COPD.
COBISS.SI-ID: 25697497
Chronic cardiopulmonary disease typically induces and maintains (over)activation of several phylogenetically old adaptational and defensive mechanisms. In chronic disease conditions, however, those mechanisms are kept activated for longer periods Landmark trials in chronic heart failure have provided robust evidence for prognostic benefit for neurohormonal antagonists. Retrospective and epidemiological data for their beneficial effect in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease begin to accumulate and new fields (e.g. cancer and stroke) could be pending in the future.
COBISS.SI-ID: 25697241