Exacerbation frequency is associated with cardiopulmonary disease burden

Exacerbation severity and frequency are crucial for the prognosis of COPD, but also appear to have a major impact on the course of comorbidities. There is a growing body of evidence showing that COPD patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular events, with the frequency and severity of exacerbations being important predictors. Optimal treatment of COPD also appears to reduce the risk of concomitant diseases. Depending on the situation, it may make sense to extend dual bronchodilation with inhaled steroids or roflumilast as an add-on.