Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (
COPD) and
atrial fibrillation (AF) are characterized by increased oxidative stress, but the impact of the coexistence of
COPD and AF on systemic oxidative stress is unclear. We performed a cross-sectional study including 157 outpatients to investigate the Nox2-related oxidative stress in patients with AF and
COPD.
COPD was defined by an FEV1/FVC <0.70. Oxidative stress was measured by sNox2-dp, a marker of Nox2 activation, and urinary
isoprostanes. We divided patients into four groups: Group 0:
hypertension (n = 49, controls); Group 1:
COPD (n = 42); Group 2: AF (n = 33); and Group 3:
COPD and AF (n = 33). Mean age was 68.3 ± 11.0 years, and 46.5% were women. Patients with
COPD or AF showed increased levels of sNox2-dp as compared with group 0; sNox2-dp further increased in patients with
COPD + AF. In these patients, sNox2-dp was higher than in those with
COPD (p < 0.001) or AF (p = 0.003). At multivariable logistic regression analysis,
chronic kidney disease,
COPD, and AF were associated with sNox2-dp above median. Similar results were observed for urinary
isoprostanes. We hypothesize that the coexistence of
COPD in AF patients may be associated with an increased systemic oxidative stress by the upregulation of Nox2. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 31, 786-790.