From hospital to home: Practical guidance when caring for patients with COPD and heart disease

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) frequently suffer from other chronic conditions, with cardiovascular disease being especially common. The presence of cardiovascular disease in patients with COPD complicates overall disease management and is associated with worse morbidity and high mortality. Furthermore, patients who are hospitalised due to a COPD exacerbation are at an increased risk of death not only during hospitalisation but also for at least one year post-discharge, with the coexistence of cardiovascular comorbidities being key predictors of poor medium-term outcomes. Importantly, cardiovascular disease is often undiagnosed in patients with COPD - and even if diagnosed, medical care during and after hospitalisation often focuses on a single condition without structured coordination between hospital- and office-based physicians. This narrative review aims to provide practical guidance to primary and (non-specialist) secondary care physicians who are caring for patients with COPD and cardiovascular comorbidities, including the discharge process and the post-hospitalisation period. Limited data are available to support some of these recommendations, and the content therefore represents expert consensus based on collective experience and practice.