Reduced peak expiratory flow predicts increased risk of cardiovascular disease: A 10-year prospective cohort study in Eastern China.

Background: The correlation between impaired lung function and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) has attracted more and more attention. We aimed to assess the longitudinal association between decreased peak expiratory flow (PEF) and cardiovascular risk among Eastern Chinese general population.

Methods: In total, 6295 participants aged>30 years and free of CVD at baseline were followed for up to 10 years in Eastern China. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for CVD and mortality associated with decreased PEF were analyzed.

Results: Among all participants, 421 CVD incident events were reported during 10-year follow-up, and a total of 272 participants died during the follow-up period, 94 of them from CVD. The HRs in the lowest group of PEF (PEF ≤218.33 L/min) were 1.31 (95% confidence interval [CI]:1.01 to 1.68) for high CVD incidence (172 vs 116), 2.43 (95% CI:1.72 to 3.42) for all-cause mortality (156 vs 48), and 3.94 (95% CI:1.96 to 7.92) for CVD mortality (59 vs 10) when compared with the highest group (PEF ≥321.68 L/min).

Conclusion: The decreased PEF was associated with increased CVD incidence, CVD and all-cause mortality in Eastern Chinese general population.