Concomitant COPD and diabetes mellitus –additive risk factors for pulmonary micro- and macroangiopathy?
Medical Review (Med. pregled), 2024, 60(3), 5-11.
E. Mekov1, M. Boyanov2, R. Khairallah3, R. Petkov1
1 Department of Respiratory Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University – Sofia
2 University Hospital Alexandrovska, Department Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University – Sofia
3 UMHAT Sveti Ivan Rilski – Sofia
Abstract. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and diabetes mellitus are chronic diseases characterized by multiorgan involvement and systemic complications. Besides being mutually potentiating in a pathogenetic aspect, each of the two diseases is a risk factor for the appearance of the other. Among other disorders, the overlapin pathogenetic mechanisms also affects the vascular structure of the lungs. This results in impairment of both the ventilation and diffusion functions of the respiratory system. Pulmonary blood flow, as well as the systemic complications of both diseases, are influenced by worsening pulmonary hypertension, which is a predictor of a more severe prognosis. In this regard, timely prevention, treatment and control of both diseases can reduce the risk and severity of complications and improve their course. The ophthalmological assessment of eye vascular structures as an easily accessible and effective method for prevention and follow-up in dynamics is of interest. Future research will focus on the interrelationship of pulmonary and kidney hemodynamics in both diseases and in their combined appearance. The present review summarizes the impact of diabetes mellitus on the pulmonary circulation and function in patients with COPD.
Key words: COPD, diabetes mellitus, macroangiopathy, pulmonary hypertension, systemic inflammations
Address for correspondence: Assoc. Prof. Evgeni Mekov, MD, PhD, e-mail: evgeni.mekov@gmail.com