Cardiovascular Biomarkers and Their Relationship to Radiologically Detected Coronary Artery Disease in Stable COPD and During Community-treated Exacerbation

This study examined the relationship between radiologically detected coronary artery disease and cardiac biomarkers in COPD. Structural CAD was highly prevalent and largely undiagnosed, and was associated with higher baseline troponin I and BNP levels, suggesting subclinical myocardial injury in stable COPD. During exacerbations, changes in BNP—but not troponin—were modestly related to the presence of CAD and coronary calcium, although these associations were attenuated after adjustment for age and sex. Overall, the findings indicate that elevated cardiac biomarkers in COPD are linked to underlying coronary disease, but this relationship is partly explained by demographic factors and limited by small numbers during exacerbations.