Lung
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Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with decreased overall survival in patients with chronic lung disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of echocardiographic evidence of PH on 1-year survival in patients hospitalized with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This is a retrospective study of patients admitted to a respiratory intermediate care unit with COPD exacerbation between October 1, 2002 and September 30, 2004. ⋯ The effect of PH on survival was independent of age, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)), arterial pH, pCO(2), or pO(2) (p < 0.01). Echocardiographic evidence of PH is associated with increased 1-year mortality in patients admitted with COPD exacerbation. Further studies are needed to determine if PH is a cause of increased mortality in this population or an indicator of other cardiovascular disease.