Even Mild Lung Disease Hurts the Heart

Past evidence has shown that severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can damage the heart. But a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that even mild COPD affects heart function.

COPD is the fourth-leading cause of death in the U.S. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are two forms of COPD. Both cause narrowed airways, which make it hard to breathe, and a persistent cough.

A Look at Heart and Lung Function

Researchers assessed heart and lung function of more than 2,800 volunteers who were 61 years old on average and free from heart disease. All were part of an ongoing study about the early stages of heart, lung, and blood diseases.

Based on results from computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, the researchers found that about 15 percent of the study participants had emphysema. Their hearts performed more poorly in pumping blood than those without emphysema.

As the severity of lung disease increased, blood flow from the heart decreased. This was true even in mild cases of disease, which suggests that early-stage COPD affects the heart. Also, the effects of lung disease on heart function were most severe in smokers.