Nilsson U, et al. – The aim of this population–based study was to evaluate the influence of ischemic ECG abnormalities (I–ECG) on mortality among individuals with COPD, compared to subjects with normal lung function (NLF). It was observed in the findings that I–ECG was related to an increased risk of death in COPD, independent of common confounders and disease severity. In addition, I–ECG was of prognostic value among those without previously known heart disease.

Methods

• All subjects with FEV1/VC <0.70 (COPD, n=993) were identified from population-based cohorts, together with age- and sex-matched referents without COPD during 2002–2004.
• Re-examination in 2005 included interview, spirometry, and 12-lead ECG in COPD (n=635) and referents [n=991, whereof seven hundred eighty-six had NLF].
• All ECGs were Minnesota-coded.
• Mortality information were gathered until December 31, 2010.

Results

• The results of this study showed that I-ECG was equally common in COPD and NLF.
• Findings revealed that the 5-year cumulative mortality was higher among subjects with I-ECG in both groups (29.6% vs 10.6%, P<0.001 and 17.1% vs 6.6%, P<0.001).
• COPD, however not NLF, with I-ECG had increased risk for death assessed as the mortality risk ratio [95% confidence interval (CI)] when compared with NLF without I-ECG, 2.36 (1.45–3.85) and 1.65 (0.94–2.90) when adjusted for common confounders.
• When analyzed separately among the COPD cohort, the increased risk for death related to I-ECG persisted after adjustment for FEV1% predicted, 1.89 (1.20–2.99).
• A larger part of those with I-ECG had no previously reported heart disease (74.2% in NLF and 67.3% in COPD) and the pattern was similar among them.