Cor pulmonale is most commonly associated with which cardiac findings in chronic bronchitis?

Cor pulmonale is most commonly associated with which cardiac findings in chronic bronchitis?

• A. Left-sided heart failure signs such as dyspnea on exertion
• B. Right-sided heart failure signs such as JVD and edema
• C. Atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response
• D. Normal ECG

Answer: (B)

Cor pulmonale is right-sided heart failure caused by chronic lung disease that leads to pulmonary hypertension. In chronic bronchitis, long-standing hypoxemia and vascular remodeling raise pulmonary pressures, making the right ventricle work harder, hypertrophy, and eventually fail. The most characteristic cardiac findings reflect this right-sided failure: concepts like elevated jugular venous pressure and edema. These signs arise from systemic venous congestion as the RV struggles against the high pulmonary resistance, leading to peripheral edema, hepatomegaly, and sometimes ascites. Left-sided heart failure signs, such as dyspnea on exertion from pulmonary edema or orthopnea, are not the primary presentation in cor pulmonale. Atrial fibrillation can occur in COPD, but it is not the defining feature of cor pulmonale. An ECG might show signs of right ventricular strain or hypertrophy rather than a normal tracing, so a completely normal ECG would be unlikely in this context.

Cor pulmonale is right-sided heart failure caused by chronic lung disease that leads to pulmonary hypertension. In chronic bronchitis, long-standing hypoxemia and vascular remodeling raise pulmonary pressures, making the right ventricle work harder, hypertrophy, and eventually fail. The most characteristic cardiac findings reflect this right-sided failure: concepts like elevated jugular venous pressure and edema. These signs arise from systemic venous congestion as the RV struggles against the high pulmonary resistance, leading to peripheral edema, hepatomegaly, and sometimes ascites.

Left-sided heart failure signs, such as dyspnea on exertion from pulmonary edema or orthopnea, are not the primary presentation in cor pulmonale. Atrial fibrillation can occur in COPD, but it is not the defining feature of cor pulmonale. An ECG might show signs of right ventricular strain or hypertrophy rather than a normal tracing, so a completely normal ECG would be unlikely in this context.