What is the major cause of right ventricular failure unrelated to cardiac disease?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant cause of right ventricular failure that is not directly related to cardiac disease. In COPD, the chronic obstruction of airflow leads to increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation, known as pulmonary hypertension. This elevated pressure in the lungs imposes a strain on the right ventricle, which must work harder to pump blood into the pulmonary arteries. Over time, this increased workload can lead to right ventricular hypertrophy and eventually right heart failure.

Understanding this mechanism is crucial because it illustrates how respiratory conditions can profoundly impact cardiac function despite not originating from the heart itself. Other conditions such as renal disease, severe systemic infection, and myocardial ischemia focus on different physiological pathways and mechanisms primarily associated with either kidney function, systemic inflammatory responses, or direct coronary artery problems. While these conditions can influence the heart's performance, they do not specifically result in right ventricular failure through the pathway associated with COPD.