Systemic features of COPD
There are several extra pulmonary effects associated with COPD:
- cachexia
- skeletal muscle wasting
- increased risk of cardiovascular disease
- normochromic normocytic anaemia
- osteoporosis
- depression
- secondary polycythemia
Systemic inflammation together with skeletal muscle wasting causes limitations in the exercise capacity of patients and worsens prognosis (regardless of the degree of airflow obstruction) (1).
Reference:
- 1. Currie, G.P. (Ed.) (2011) ABC of COPD. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing
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