[COPD: beyond the respiratory system].

COPD is a respiratory disease associated with multiple extrapulmonary comorbidities: cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, depression and psychological disorders are the most prevalent. Comorbidities, especially ischemic heart disease, represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality in COPD patients. The putative link between COPD and comorbidities could be the low-grade systemic inflammation, which is common in COPD. The presence of multiple comorbidities has a strong impact on the management of COPD patients.