Right heart haemodynamic values and respiratory function test parameters in chronic smokers.

During coronary angiography in 24 chronic smokers with coronary heart disease, cardiac function measurements were taken and correlated with respiratory function tests. Fourteen patients had evidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cardiac output had a direct correlation with vital capacity, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and velocity at 25% of FVC (V(max)25). Pulmonary artery resistance was inversely correlated with FEV1/FVC, while pulmonary artery oxygen saturation weakly correlated with FEV1 and V(max)25. The pulmonary artery pressure had a weak correlation with the pulmonary artery resistance and an intermediate correlation with the right atrium and the right ventricular pressures. Early diagnosis and therapy of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in smokers may be possible without using invasive methods.