Abstract
The simultaneous incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure is not uncommon and significantly increases the mortality of these patients. Therefore, an early dia-gnosis and the choice of optimal therapy are important.
Dia-gnostics can be difficult sometimes; both conditions have certain symptoms in common. When interpreting the results of certain examination methods, it is necessary to take into account the possibility of interaction (natriuretic peptides, functional examination of the lungs).
The choice of optimal therapy is of great importance, but may have some pitfalls (e. g. high doses of beta-agonists in high-risk cardiovascular patients, or under-titration/ withdrawal of beta-blockers). The therapy for both diseases requires the cooperation and mutual awareness of the cardiologist and the pulmonologist.