Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease effect on the prevalence and postoperative outcome of abdominal aortic aneurysms: A meta-analysis

Epidemiologic evidence suggested chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) might increase risk for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, the association between COPD and AAA remains inconclusive. We searched PubMed and Cochrane databases until June 2015. Forty-eight articles were included for meta-analysis. COPD was found to be positively associated with AAA, regardless of study design and smoking status. AAA mortality is higher among COPD patients compared with non-COPD patients (postoperative [adjusted OR 2.11; 95% CI 1.33-3.34]; long-term [adjusted OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.37-2.12]). But the association between postoperative mortality and COPD was not found to be significant in patients underwent endovascular aneurysm repair (mixed OR 2.53; 95% CI 0.70-9.18). Rupture AAA may increase the postoperative mortality in COPD patients (rupture [adjusted OR 4.75; 95% CI 2.07-10.89]; non-rupture [adjusted OR 1.97; 95% CI 1.11-3.49]). The AAA postoperative morbidity was found to be positively associated with COPD (adjusted OR 1.59; 95% CI 1.14-2.21). Increased COPD severity may increase the long-term mortality (medical versus oxygen dependent: [OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.07-1.49] versus [OR 2.79; 95% CI 2.24-3.49]). In conclusion, COPD may increase the risk of AAA, morbidity and mortality of AAA patients underwent endovascular aortic repair.