Objective: To study prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidity in DPLD patients and it’s association of with different classes of DPLDs. To find out impact of cardiovascular comorbidity on quality of life, morbidity and disease severity.

Methods: An observational, cross sectional study done at IPGME&R  Kolkata, India after taking institutional ethics committee approval. 48 DPLD patients who met inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected. HRCT thorax, collagen vascular disease markers and other relevant tests done to classify different types of DPLD. Data were obtained on degree of dyspnoea (mMRC scale), results of oxygen saturation on breathing room air, six minute walk test, pulmonary function test results, Barthel’s index of Activities of Daily Living (To assess quality of life). ECG and echocardiography done to find presence of cardiovascular comorbidities. analysed using Statistica version 6 [Tulsa,   Oklahoma: StatSoft Inc., 2001] and GraphPad Prism version 5 [San Diego, California: GraphPad Software Inc., 2007]. Data were analysed using Student’s unpaired t test and Mann Whitney U test. Categorical variables were analysed by Fisher’s exact test and Chi square test. p value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results: Cardiovascular comorbidity present in significant number of patients (75%). Pulmonary hypertension is the commonest cardiovascular comorbidity (66.67%) followed by heart failure(37.5%), hypertension(25%), dyslipidemia(25%), arrhythmia(25%) and ischemic heart disease(18.75%). CTD associated DPLD (41.67%) and IPF (30.56%) were mostly associated with cardiovascular comorbidity. Statistically significant association found between cardiovascular comorbidity and occurrence of leg swelling (p 0.006), respiratory rate (p 0.012), mMRC dyspnoea grade (p 0.017), LVEF value (p 0.006), FVC value (p 0.051), SpO2 at room air (p 0.012), post 6 minute walk test SpO2 (p 0.036) and Barthel index (p 0.003). Trend of association was find with cyanosis (p 0.082), mPAP value (p 0.059). No significant association was find with duration of cough (p 0.415), dyspnoea (p 0.113) and clubbing (p 0.143).

Conclusion: Cardiovascular comorbidities are common in DPLD patients and have adverse effect on quality of life. Every DPLD patient should be screened and treated for cardiovascular comorbidity. It will reduce morbidity, mortality and will improve quality of life and exercise capacity.