Is airflow limitation in COPD associated with increased left ventricular wall stress in coincident heart failure?
The severity of airflow limitation in COPD was correlated with increased LV wall stress. It is suggested that respiration in pulmonary obstruction is associated with an increased negative intrathoracic pressure when compared with normal lung function, which is transmitted to the heart and increases the transmural pressure gradient and thereby distending forces on the heart. Increased ventricular wall stress is known to be associated with a broad variety of unfavourable consequences, which should be taken into account to contribute to a worse prognosis in COPD.
These results support other data suggesting that the COMT val(108/158)met polymorphism might be an important factor in the cognitive response to antipsychotic medication.