الفهرس 
Anatomy of the LungsOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
COPD is a common preventable and curable disease. It is characterized by a progressive airway obstruction and inflammation in airways and lung parenchyma in response to smoking or pollution. COPD exacerbations and comorbidities represent the most important medical challenge concerning this disease.
Comorbid conditions frequently accompany COPD and exert a tremendous effect on its progress and outcome. Some of these comorbidities may share risk factors with COPD e.g., smoking is a risk factor for both COPD and IHD. Anyway both COPD and its comorbidity must be treated simultaneously without underweighting the comorbid condition which may be more dangerous than COPD itself.
Comorbidities are common with COPD and commonly its diagnosis represents an important medical challenge. Cardiovascular comorbidities represent the most common most dangerous comorbidities and a common cause for hospital admission and mortalities.
The most common cardiovascular comorbidities are right cardiovascular dysfunction, CHF, IHD, HTN and arrhythmias.
CHF is a common comorbidity with COPD. And its presentation may resemble or even overlap exacerbations making it a difficult diagnostic challenge.
As regards IHD as a comorbidity with COPD, COPD patient has an increasing risk of IHD development that may be due to sharing risk factors e.g., smoking. Studies refer to frequent underestimation of this problem in COPD patients.
Arrhythmias and especially AF are important comorbidity with COPD. COPD patients have an increased risk of its development. And it is really deserve special attention when it accompany COPD exacerbations.
Systemic HTN is the most common cardiac comorbidity with COPD.
So as we previously show we can conclude that deeper understanding and anticipation of cardiac comorbid conditions will definitely help better understanding, handling, and management of COPD than the condition when COPD is managed as a single intety. That better handling will allow a possible important reduction of mortality and morbidity with a better ICU management of this commonly encountered problem.