The impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its associated lung hyperinflation on cardiac structure and function

Background Significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality exists in COPD, independent of traditional risk factors, although the mechanisms are poorly understood. Lung hyperinflation, the presence of supra-normal residual volumes (RVol) at the end of expiration, is one postulated mechanism. We sought to investigate the impact of COPD on cardiac structure and function compared to a control group with equivalent cardiovascular risk and look at the relative contributions of lung hyperinflation, defined as RVol per cent predicted value >120 %, as well as traditional spirometric measures.