Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease - Complications

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Sleep Apnea. About half of those with severe COLD experience obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing stops and starts many times each night. This condition is more serious than previously thought. It has been associated with an elevated risk for hypertension (high blood pressure), stroke, dementia, and pulmonary hypertension.

Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a significant problem in patients with COLD. Many conditions associated with COLD (smoking, vitamin D deficiencies, a sedentary lifestyle, the use of corticosteroids) put people at risk for bone density loss and osteoporosis.

Review Date: 04/28/2006
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, M.D., Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital