Pulmonary Function, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Prevalence, and Systemic Inflammation in Chronic Heart Failure With or Without COPD

The aim of the present study is: 1. To investigate pulmonary function abnormalities (restriction, obstruction, diffusion impairment, mixed pulmonary defects) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and to determine which of these pulmonary abnormalities prevail and to what extent. 2. To determine the prevalence, underdiagnosis, and overdiagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as determined by spirometry and according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria in patients with CHF. 3. To investigate the presence of systemic inflammation, as measured by inflammatory parameters (leukocytes, platelets, high sensitivity CRP), in CHF patients with or without COPD.