COPD in Patients Hospitalized for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

Background:

The prevalence of mild to moderate COPD is ~5%-10% with one-year mortality around 3% while heart failure affects is1%-3% with one year mortality 5-7% in the community. The mortality of COPD and heart failure dramatically increase following hospitalization.

Heart failure and COPD are independent predictors of increased morbidity and mortality. COPD and heart failure frequently co-exist in an individual patient through the shared risk factors. The prevalence of COPD in heart failure patient-population and vice verse varies widely according to patient-selection and age of the population. Estimates suggest that COPD is present in 10-40% of the patients with heart failure. Conversely, unrecognized heart failure is identified in approximately 20% of the patient with COPD. The impact of COPD on clinical outcome in patients with acute decompensated heart failure is unclear.

Methods:

This is an observational cohort study. Per national registry, acute heart failure is defined as either new onset heart failure or decompensation of chronic established heart failure with symptoms sufficient to warrant hospitalization.