Air trapping and the risk of cardiovascular events in COPD exacerbations.

<bold>Introduction:</bold> The risk of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke and acute heart failure is higher during COPD exacerbations. Air trapping is associated with more dyspnea, lower exercise capacity, worse quality of life and increased risk of exacerbations in COPD patients [Kim et al, <italic>Front Med (Lausanne).</italic> 2022;9:835069]. <bold>Aims and objectives:</bold> Whether there is an association between air trapping lung function parameters during stable condition and cardiovascular (CV) events during COPD exacerbations. <bold>Methods:</bold> Historical files of COPD patients admitted to our department for COPD exacerbation during the last 5 years were used. Demographic characteristics, and pulmonary function test results including forced spirometry, diffusing capacity and lung plethysmography during stable condition were recorded. The occurrence of a cardiovascular event during hospital stay was also recorded. <bold>Results:</bold> 149 patients (84 (56.4%) males median age 73 (68.5, 78.5) years old were included in the analysis. 38 patients (25%) experienced CV events during hospitalization. The commonest CV event was acute pulmonary oedema which represented 25/38 (65.7%) of events. No significant differences were observed in the pulmonary function results between patients who experienced and did not experience CV events during hospitalization including spirometric results, assessment of the small airways, hyperinflation and static lung volumes measured by body plethysmography. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> CV events with most common the pulmonary oedema appear early in the course of COPD-Exacerbations and have no significant association with lung function parameters of stable COPD.