The potential impact of anaemia of chronic disease in COPD

Abstract

Anaemia of chronic disease (ACD), with chronically low levels of circulating haemoglobin, is an immune driven abnormality that occurs in many inflammatory diseases, and also in chronic heart failure. Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is “traditionally” associated with polycythaemia, the systemic inflammation that is now recognised as a feature of COPD makes it a possible cause of ACD. If present in COPD, anaemia could worsen dyspnoea and limit exercise tolerance.