Control of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Cardiovascular disease accounts for one-third of deaths in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Better control of cardiovascular risk factors in primary care could improve outcomes. To define the prevalence, monitoring, treatment, and control of risk factors in patients with COPD. Repeated cross-sectional analysis of primary care electronic medical records for all patients with COPD in the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network from 2013 to 2018 ( = 32,695 in 2018). A control group was matched 1:1 for age, sex, and rural residence ( = 32,638 in 2018). Five risk factors were defined using validated definitions including laboratory results: hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, obesity, and smoking. All risk factors were more common in patients with COPD compared with matched control subjects, including hypertension (52.3% vs. 44.9%), dyslipidemia (62.0% vs. 57.8%), diabetes (25.0% vs. 20.2%), obesity (40.8% vs. 36.8%), and smoking (40.9% vs. 11.4%), respectively. The mean Framingham risk score was 20.6% versus 18.6%, with 53.8% of patients with COPD being high risk (⩾20%). Monitoring of risk factors within the last year in patients with COPD in 2018 was suboptimal: 71.8% hypertension, 39.4% dyslipidemia, 74.5% diabetes, 52.3% obesity. Smoking status was infrequently recorded in the electronic record. In those monitored, guideline recommended targets were achieved in 60.8%, 46.6%, 57.4%, 10.6% and 12.0% for each risk factor. Cardiovascular therapies including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (69%), statins (69%), and smoking cessation therapies (27%) were underused. In patients with COPD, major cardiovascular risk factors are common, yet inadequately monitored, undertreated, and poorly controlled. Strategies are needed to improve comprehensive risk factor management proven to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.