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

New research published in Orphanet Rare Disease Journal They studied patients with a rare genetic disease called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), which causes a lung disease similar to COPD, independent of risk factors such as smoking and age.

More than 220 AATD patients participated in this study, along with patients with COPD and a non-pulmonary population of controls, and all were evaluated for current cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cardiovascular diseases known to increase future risk. Risk factors such as evaluation of induration were recognized. event. He was then followed for 4 years to see if the patient developed her CVD.

Patients with the rare genetic disease AATD had the highest adjusted scores of all participants for vascular stiffness, but the lowest scores for standard-related risk factors for CVD, with almost half (45%) of patients having The scores did not match, one was higher and the other was higher. the other is low.

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 essential systems. It showed me that I can’t do it. In my body.”

Potential therapeutic targets

Participants also donated blood, which was tested for enzymes linked to 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 PhD, researcher at the University of Birmingham and corresponding author of the paper, said:

“The role of proteinase-3 serves as a powerful link between lung and heart disease. Blocking this enzyme’s ability to attack elastin fibers in the lungs and major arteries can improve lung health. It has been suggested that it may have a dual effect in slowing down both cardiovascular and cardiovascular disease. ”