Pulse wave velocity and other indicators of arterial stiffness in hypertension comorbidity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

More than 40% of COPD patients also suffer from arterial hypertension. Aksenova and colleagues aimed to evaluate aortic vascular biomarkers (central systolic blood pressure (cSBP), central pulse pressure (cPP), and pulse wave velocity (PWV)) in patients with both conditions. They found that cSBP and cPP were higher in patients with both hypertension and COPD compared to those with either condition alone. Independent factors contributing to an increase in PWV included the combination of hypertension and COPD, age, and elevated cPP and cSBP levels. Identifying various vascular phenotypes in COPD could guide targeted treatment and identify individuals at risk of vascular stiffening who might otherwise be overlooked.