Objectives: Autonomic dysfunction (AD) and dynamic hyperinflation (DH) have been implicated as pathophysiological mechanisms of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD) patients. Their association, however, remains elusive: The aims of the study were: (1) to determine the prevalence of AD and DH in non-severe COPD patients, with exertional dyspnea, without clinically overt cardio-vascular (CV) comorbidities; (2) to analyze the correlation and clinical significance between DH, AD, and maksed HFpEF.
Methods: We applied CPET in 68 subjects.
Croat Med J
October 2019