Summary

The purpose of this study was to analyze the arterial compliance and the systemic vascular resistance in patients with stable COPD and to associate the findings with left ventricular structural and functional features. Fifteen patients with COPD (age 61.3 ± 8.6 years) were included in the study. None of the patients had any other clinical disorder. Doppler-echocardiography and non-invasive monitoring of arterial blood pressure were performed. All the results were compared to an age-matched control group (n=8). The patients with COPD presented higher heart rate (COPD: 78 ± 14 beats/min; control: 64 ± 9 beats/min; p<0.05) and systemic vascular resistance (COPD: 2,102 ± 320 dyn.s-1.cm-5; control: 1,727 ± 274 dyn.s-1.cm-5; p<0.05). There was a decreased arterial compliance (COPD: 1.18 ± 0.43 ml/mmHg; control: 1.69 ± 0.43 ml/mmHg; p<0.05) and a lower stroke volume index (COPD: 27.9 ± 5.3 ml/m2; control: 36.2 ± 7.0 ml/m2; p<0.05) in the COPD patients. Other structural and functional parameters were similar between the groups. In conclusion, patients with COPD have maintained left ventricular function and impaired vascular mechanical properties.