Patients with lung disease are more likely to develop heart disease regardless of their risk factors, according to a new study.

A new study published in the Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases shows that a rare disease called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), which causes a lung disease similar to COPD, is independent of risk factors such as smoking and age. The study targeted patients suffering from genetic diseases. More than 220 AATD patients participated in the study, along with COPD patients and a non-pulmonary disease control population. and all were assessed for current cardiovascular disease (CVD) and recognized risk factors, including assessment of vascular stiffness, which is known to increase risk of future events. He was then followed for 4 years to see if the patient developed her CVD.

Patients with AATD, a rare genetic disease, had the highest adjusted scores of all participants for vascular stiffness, but the lowest scores for standard-related risk factors for CVD, accounting for nearly half of patients (45%). The scores were high on one side and low on the other. .

On the other hand, COPD and control participants had similar scores on direct and indirect measures of CVD risk.

Furthermore, although AATD participants had lower risk factors associated with developing cardiovascular disease, including a higher proportion of younger people and never smokers, 12.7% of participants had developed CVD after 4 years of follow-up. The disease has developed.

Robert Stockley, professor and consultant in acute respiratory medicine at the University of Birmingham and lead author of the paper, said:

“This long-term study allowed us to uniquely look at the relationship between lung disease and heart disease by following a group of patients with this rare genetic disease.

“Our study shows that people with lung disease are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and that looking at traditional factors such as age and smoking alone does not provide a complete picture of the relationship between these two important factors. It has been shown that systems within the body cannot.”

Potential therapeutic targets

Participants also provided blood that was tested for enzymes associated with lung damage in AATD patients.

Levels of the enzyme proteinase 3 were significantly higher in patients with AATD, and the study found a link between elevated enzyme levels and blood vessel stiffness, and thus CVD risk. The research team believes that the proteinase-3 enzyme may have a more direct effect on the development of heart and lung disease through the destruction of large arteries and the supporting fibers of the lungs, and that proteinase-3 inhibitors may be particularly effective in reducing cardiovascular disease. We believe this may be a new treatment for prevention. In AATD patients.

Louise Crowley, clinical research fellow and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Birmingham and corresponding author of the paper, said:

“The role of proteinase 3 serves as a powerful link between lung disease and heart disease. This suggests that this may have a dual effect in slowing down both pulmonary and cardiovascular disease.”