Respiratory Pathology and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Scoping Review

Respiratory diseases and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have high prevalence and share common risk factors. In some respiratory diseases such as sleep apnoea and COPD, the evidence of their negative impact on the prognosis of CVDs seems clear. However, in other diseases it is less evident whether there is any direct relationship. With this in mind, our objective was to provide information that may be helpful to better understand the relationship between respiratory pathology and CVDs.

There are different reasons for this relationship, such as shared risk factors, common pathophysiological mechanisms, side effects of treatment and the direct effect in the heart and great vessels of respiratory diseases.

Indeed, aging and smoking are risk factors for CVDs and also for respiratory diseases such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), COPD and interstitial lung diseases (ILD).

Furthermore, there are common pathophysiological mechanisms that affect both respiratory diseases and CVDs, such as accelerated atherosclerosis, microvascular dysfunction, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, hypoxemia and oxidative stress.

Besides that, it is well known that lung cancer, sarcoidosis and amyloidosis may directly affect the heart and great vessels.

Finally, side effects of drugs for respiratory diseases and the discontinuation of treatments that are necessary for CVDs, such as β-blockers and aspirin, may have a deleterious impact on the cardiovascular system.

In conclusion, the coexistence of respiratory diseases and CVDs is very common. It makes modifying diagnostic and therapeutic management necessary and is also a relevant prognostic factor.