J Korean Med Assoc.  2006 Apr;49(4):321-332. 10.5124/jkma.2006.49.4.321.

Complications of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

• Choe KH

• KMID: 1958286
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2006.49.4.321

Abstract

Although symptoms related to airflow obstruction are the most prominent symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there are many local and systemic complications contributing to the morbidity and mortality of the patients. This review article briefly discusses the following complications of COPD and their clinical implications: change of pulmonary circulation, peripheral edema, systemic inflammation, cardiovascular complication, weight loss, skeletal muscle dysfunction, osteoporosis, and anxiety. A better understanding and management of these complications as well as treatment of the airflow obstruction can improve the quality of life, and even the survival of the patients.

Keyword

Complication; Systemic Effect; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Edema
Humans
Inflammation
Mortality
Muscle, Skeletal
Osteoporosis
Pulmonary Circulation
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive*
Quality of Life
Weight Loss

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease where cigarette-smoke products play a central role in initiating the sequence of changes which results in pulmonary hypertension.

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