The importance of left heart disease as a cause of pulmonary hypertension in COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common respiratory condition that presents in varying degrees of severity and can be complicated by further co-morbidities. Up to a third can also have pulmonary hypertension, which is an important risk factor associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality. The etiology of the pulmonary hypertension contributes. Correctly considering and identifying the type of pulmonary hypertension will influence management and outcome in patients with COPD. The article by Lepida et al on the contribution of left heart disease in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with pulmonary hypertension (PH) investigates and describes a 'real population' clinical prevalence of two known related conditions.