Assessment of left ventricular function in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the world's third leading cause of death, posing a significant public health challenge. Heart failure is an important milestone in the natural history of this disease's ever-decreasing course. Cor pulmonale alone is sometimes insufficient to explain the scenario, as many heart failures are refractory even after standard treatment.