Suskovic S, Kosnik M, Lainscak M. Heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Two for tea or tea for two? World J Cardiol 2010; 2(10): 305-307 [PMID: 21160607 DOI: 10.4330/wjc.v2.i10.305]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Stanislav Suskovic, Professor, Department for Clinical Audit, University Clinic for Respiratory and Allergic Diseases Golnik, Golnik 36, SI-4204 Golnik, Slovenia. stanislav.suskovic@klinika-golnik.si
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World J Cardiol. Oct 26, 2010; 2(10): 305-307 Published online Oct 26, 2010. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v2.i10.305
Heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Two for tea or tea for two?
Stanislav Suskovic, Mitja Kosnik, Mitja Lainscak
Stanislav Suskovic, Department for Clinical Audit, University Clinic for Respiratory and Allergic Diseases Golnik, SI-4204 Golnik, Slovenia
Mitja Kosnik, University Clinic for Respiratory and Allergic Diseases Golnik, SI-4204 Golnik, Slovenia
Mitja Lainscak, Division of Cardiology, University Clinic for Respiratory and Allergic Diseases Golnik, SI-4204 Golnik, Slovenia
Mitja Lainscak, Applied Cachexia Research, Department of Cardiology, Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
Author contributions: The authors contributed equally to this review.
Correspondence to: Stanislav Suskovic, Professor, Department for Clinical Audit, University Clinic for Respiratory and Allergic Diseases Golnik, Golnik 36, SI-4204 Golnik, Slovenia. stanislav.suskovic@klinika-golnik.si
Telephone: +386-4-2569390 Fax: +386-4-2569117
Received: July 20, 2010 Revised: September 17, 2010 Accepted: September 24, 2010 Published online: October 26, 2010
Abstract
A combination of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure (HF) is common yet it is inadequately and rarely recognized. Because of the similar clinical manifestations, comorbidity is frequently not considered and appropriate diagnostic tests are not performed. It is very important that a combination of COPD and HF is recognized as these patients have a worse prognosis than patients with an individual disease. When present, COPD should not prevent the use of life-saving therapy in patients with HF, particularly β-blockers. Despite clear evidence of the safety and tolerability of cardioselective β-blockers in COPD patients, these drugs remain grossly underprescribed and underdosed. Routine spirometry and echocardiography in HF and COPD patients, respectively, is therefore warranted to improve current clinical practice.
