Practice Update: Cardiology

CONFERENCE COVERAGE 10

American Thoracic Society 2017 International Conference 19–24 MAY • WASHINGTON DC, USA

COPD exacerbations in those with CVDmay raiseMI/stroke risk After an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), patients with a history of cardiovascular disease or those at risk for cardiovascular disease appear more likely to suffer a myocardial infarction or stroke. W ithin 30 days after an acute exac- erbation, the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke rose four- lung function, such as occurs with COPD, is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. One theory for why this happens is that COPD triggers inflammation and that inflammation, in turn, leads to cardiovas- cular disease.

Each year the American Thoracic Society International Conference highlights research in lung disease, critical illness, and sleep disorders. The PracticeUpdate Editorial Team reports on two key clinical trials presented at this year’s meeting.

fold. Within 31 days to 1 year after the exacerbation, the odds nearly doubled. A year after the exacerbation, the risk did not differ significantly. This conclusion was based on results of a secondary analysis of adjudicated Study to Understand Mortality and MorbidiTY (SUMMIT) trial data. Ken M. Kunisaki, MD, MS, of the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis Veterans Administration Health Care System, said, “Previous studies have shown that lower

“Since COPD exacerbations lead to par- ticularly high levels of inflammation, we wondered whether these exacerbations would be linked to higher rates of cardio- vascular disease events.” Dr Kunisaki and colleagues analyzed data from SUMMIT. SUMMIT enrolled cur- rent and former smokers between the ages of 40 and 80 years who suffered

PRACTICEUPDATE CARDIOLOGY