What might an EKG show in a patient with COPD?

In a patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), it is common to see signs of right axis deviation on an EKG. This phenomenon occurs due to the changes in the heart's structure and function that are often associated with COPD. As the lung tissue becomes damaged, it can lead to hypoxia (low oxygen levels) and increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation, resulting in right ventricular hypertrophy as the right side of the heart works harder to pump blood through the lungs.

This adaptive change can manifest as a shift of the electrical axis of the heart to the right, which is referred to as right axis deviation. The EKG gives a visual representation of the heart's electrical activity, and alterations like this can often signal underlying pulmonary or cardiovascular conditions, such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, both of which are forms of COPD.

While normal sinus rhythm and prolonged QT intervals can be detected in some instances, they do not specifically indicate the cardiovascular effects related to COPD as prominently as the right axis deviation does. Left axis deviation is typically not associated with COPD; it is more often linked to conditions such as left ventricular hypertrophy or myocardial infarction. Therefore, right axis deviation is a hallmark finding on an EKG for patients