Association between lung function and subclinical atherosclerosis in overweight subjects

An association between COPD and subclinical atherosclerosis that persisted after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors has been reported. This may explain the excess cardiovascular mortality seen in patients with COPD. Objective: To investigate the association between lung function and subclinical atherosclerosis in a population of obese adults with a normal lung function. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of the NEO (Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity) study, a cohort of adults aged 45 to 65 years with a Body Mass Index (BMI) 27≥ kg/m 2 . The association between FEV1 and subclinical atherosclerosis (mean maximal common carotid intima- media thickness [cIMT] measured by ultrasound) was assessed using linear regression. Results: 1115 adults were included with a mean (25th-75th percentiles) age of 56 (51-61) y, BMI of 31 (28-32) kg/m 2 , FEV1 of 104% (94-113) and 48,7% men. One percent FEV1% increase was associated with 0.001 mm (95% CI -0.001, -0.002) decrease in mean maximal cIMT. After adjustment for age, sex, pack years and BMI the β was 0.001 (95%CI -0.001, 0.000). Conclusion: The association between lung function and subclinical atherosclerosis in obese subjects with a normal lung function is weak and a great part of the initial association is explained by confounders. The small association is probably due to residual confounding.