COPD may also be a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality

The epidemiologic evidence linking COPD and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is strong. Even after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, total cholesterol, hypertension, metabolic syndrome and smoking, patients with COPD have a 2- to 3-fold increase in the risk of cardiovascular events including death. For every 10% decrease in FEV1, cardiovascular mortality increases by about 28%, and nonfatal coronary event increases by about 20% in mild to moderate COPD. Even among individuals with severe airways obstruction (FEV1 < 50% of predicted), the leading causes of death are cardiovascular in nature.