Pulmonary Function, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Prevalence, and Systemic Inflammation in Chronic Heart Failure With or Without COPD

Patients underwent several pulmonary function tests (spirometry, diffusion measurement, body plethysmography) according to the study protocol 1 month after the first blood sample. COPD was diagnosed post-bronchodilation according to GOLD guidelines. Patients with newly diagnosed COPD received standard treatment for COPD. Spirometry was repeated after 3 months of standard treatment for COPD in patients with newly diagnosed COPD to confirm persistent airway obstruction (COPD) and thus exclude asthma.

"First blood sample (day 1): NT-pro-BNP, sodium, potassium, urea, creatinin, glomerular filtration rate (GFR).~Second blood sample (after 1 month): NT-pro-BNP, sodium, potassium, urea, creatinin, GFR, haemoglobin, and arterial blood gas analysis in patients with GOLD III COPD. For systemic inflammation substudy also high sensitivity CRP, leukocytes, and platelets.~Third blood sample (after 3 months from second blood sample): NT-pro-BNP, sodium, potassium, urea, creatinin, and GFR."

"Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), modified Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea scale, 10-point Borg dyspnoea score.~All questionnaires were completed on the day of initial pulmonary function tests and three months later."

Standard posteroanterior and lateral chest radiographs were performed and evaluated on the presence or absence of congestion and other conditions that belonged to the exclusion criteria.