🏅 Scientific Research Poster Winner
Incidence of heart failure (HF), atrial fibrillation (AF) and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in patients with COPD registered with a general practice within the Mid-Ulster federation area (ID 491)
Mid-Ulster Federation of GP Practices
Abstract
Aim
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) co-morbidities are one of the most common co-morbidities of COPD and have a negative effect in terms of exacerbations, hospital admissions, quality of life and mortality. This research aims to highlight their prevalence to all clinicians to improve the rate of diagnosis, thus improving management and outcomes for these patients.
Method
Data collated from eleven GP practices within the Mid-Ulster Federation during April 2023 underwent comparator analysis and trend identification (n=77,979). Quality of Outcomes Framework (QOF) codes were used to identify patients with COPD and/or CVD. Searches were repeated for COPD patients (n=1575) during July 2023 to record patient gender, age and smoking status along with QOF register searches. Student’s T Test and Chi-square test for independence were performed as appropriate. p<0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Results
This study provides population-based evidence of higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF), ischaemic heart disease (IHD), and heart failure (HF) among people with COPD compared to those without COPD within the Mid-Ulster Federation area (p<0.001). The prevalence of IHD was greater in males than females (p<0.001), increased with age until the age of 85 (p<0.001), but was not significantly different for current or ex-smokers versus never smokers (p>0.05) . There was a higher incidence of AF in males (p<0.001) and in never smokers (p<0,01), but no relationship was seen with age (p=0). HF prevalence was higher in male COPD patients than females (p<0.01), increased with age until the age of 85 (p<0.001), but was not significantly different for current or ex-smokers compared to never smokers (p>0.05).
Conclusion
Current guidelines for the management of COPD do not sufficiently consider the increased risks associated with cardiovascular co-morbidities. This research highlights the need for timely diagnosis of cardiovascular co-morbidities and holistic, multi-disciplinary care to ensure optimal management of COPD and cardiovascular co-morbidities.
Funding: The data collection was completed as part of a Federation project funded by Astra Zeneca.
Conflicts of interest: None
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