Cardiac Diseases and respiratory consequences

• Literature indicates an important link between chronic obstructive lung disease, ischemic heart disease and heart failure.
• The pathogenesis of the association is partially unclear, but probably recognized shared risk factors, such as smoke, altered local and systemic inflammatory response, and alteration in blood gases.
• Patients with cardio-respiratory comorbidities have non-specific symptoms, and often a correct diagnosis is challenging.
• The diagnosis of respiratory disease, as well as the treatment, should not generally deviate from international guidelines and indications, regardless of associated cardiac diseases. Similarly, cardiac diseases should be treated according to guidelines; caution may be advised for beta-blockers and amiodarone.