Relationship between dust allergen sensitization and cardiac autonomic function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objective: Cardiac autonomic function predicts cardiovascular disease risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sensitization to dust allergens and cardiac autonomic dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to provide new ideas for the prevention of cardiovascular complications in these patients.

Methods: Immunoassays for sensitization to cats/dogs, cockroaches and dust mites were performed in 840 patients with COPD.