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The Association Between Lung Hyperinflation and Coronary Artery Disease in Smokers
Journal article   Peer reviewed

The Association Between Lung Hyperinflation and Coronary Artery Disease in Smokers

Divay Chandra, Aman Gupta, Gregory L Kinney, Carl R Fuhrman, Joseph K Leader, Alejandro A Diaz, Jessica Bon, R Graham Barr, George Washko, Matthew Budoff, …
Chest, Vol.160(3), pp.858-871
09/2021
DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2021.04.066
PMCID: PMC8449003
PMID: 33971144

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Abstract

Smokers manifest varied phenotypes of pulmonary impairment. Which pulmonary phenotypes are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) in smokers? We analyzed data from the University of Pittsburgh COPD Specialized Center for Clinically Oriented Research (SCCOR) cohort (n = 481) and the Genetic Epidemiology of COPD (COPDGene) cohort (n = 2,580). Participants were current and former smokers with > 10 pack-years of tobacco exposure. Data from the two cohorts were analyzed separately because of methodologic differences. Lung hyperinflation was assessed by plethysmography in the SCCOR cohort and by inspiratory and expiratory CT scan lung volumes in the COPDGene cohort. Subclinical CAD was assessed as the coronary artery calcium score, whereas clinical CAD was defined as a self-reported history of CAD or myocardial infarction (MI). Analyses were performed in all smokers and then repeated in those with airflow obstruction (FEV to FVC ratio, < 0.70). Pulmonary phenotypes, including airflow limitation, emphysema, lung hyperinflation, diffusion capacity, and radiographic measures of airway remodeling, showed weak to moderate correlations (r < 0.7) with each other. In multivariate models adjusted for pulmonary phenotypes and CAD risk factors, lung hyperinflation was the only phenotype associated with calcium score, history of clinical CAD, or history of MI (per 0.2 higher expiratory and inspiratory CT scan lung volume; coronary calcium: OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.5; P = .02; clinical CAD: OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.3; P = .01; and MI in COPDGene: OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0-2.8; P = .05). FEV and emphysema were associated with increased risk of CAD (P < .05) in models adjusted for CAD risk factors; however, these associations were attenuated on adjusting for lung hyperinflation. Results were the same in those with airflow obstruction and were present in both cohorts. Lung hyperinflation is associated strongly with clinical and subclinical CAD in smokers, including those with airflow obstruction. After lung hyperinflation was accounted for, FEV and emphysema no longer were associated with CAD. Subsequent studies should consider measuring lung hyperinflation and examining its mechanistic role in CAD in current and former smokers.
Airway Obstruction - diagnosis Airway Obstruction - physiopathology Airway Remodeling Asymptomatic Diseases - epidemiology Biological Variation, Population Coronary Artery Disease - diagnosis Coronary Artery Disease - epidemiology Coronary Vessels - diagnostic imaging Female Humans Lung - diagnostic imaging Lung - pathology Lung - physiopathology Male Middle Aged Organ Size Plethysmography - methods Pulmonary Emphysema - diagnostic imaging Pulmonary Emphysema - physiopathology Respiratory Function Tests - methods Risk Factors Smoking - epidemiology Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods United States - epidemiology

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