Objective To analyze the influence of COPD on the structure and function of left ventricular. Methods Sixty-nine COPD patients ( mean age: 69. 0 ±7. 8 yrs) and forty healthy controls ( mean age: 67. 8 ±7. 6 yrs) were enrolled in this study. Both groups underwent Doppler echocardiography.Heart rate ( HR) were recorded. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume ( LVEDV) , left ventricular enddiastolic diameter ( LVEDD) , interventricular septum( IVS) , stroke volume ( SV) , and cardiac output ( CO)were measured. The changes of left ventricular were compared between the COPD patients and the healthy controls, and also between the COPD patients with or without chronic cor pulmonale. Results Compared with the healthy controls, movement range of IVS, LVEDD, LVEDV, and SV reduced significantly ( P lt;0. 05) , and HR raised significantly in the COPD patients ( P lt; 0. 05) . CO had no significant difference between two groups ( P gt;0. 05) . Sub-group analysis indicated that the thickness and movement range of IVSwere greater in the patients with cor pulmonale secondary to COPD than those without cor pulmonale ( P lt;0. 05) . Conclusions In COPD patients, left ventricular chamber size decreases, and left ventricular systolic function is impaired. Left ventricular function is impaired more severe in cor pulmonale secondary to COPD than COPD without cor pulmonale.
