Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common respiratory diseases that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Exposure to toxic particles and gases, including cigarette smoke, is the main risk factor for COPD. Genetic predisposition also plays a major role, which besides toxic exposure type and duration, can determine different disease phenotypes. Patients with COPD often experience troublesome respiratory symptoms, frequent chest infections, and most importantly, are at risk of serious complications such as lung cancer and cardiorespiratory failure. Despite this, there is currently no cure for COPD, but available treatment options (pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and interventional) can help slow disease progression and improve symptoms and quality of life.
Spirometry has always been used as a cornerstone initial test in the diagnosis of COPD. Spirometry is a relatively easy test to conduct and is readily accessible in most centers. Over time, advancements in both physiological and imaging tools have helped to identify early structural and functional changes within the airways, lung parenchyma, and pulmonary vasculature even prior to overt spirometric abnormalities. Furthermore, the addition of respiratory symptoms and exacerbation history to the diagnosis has helped determine disease severity. Given most COPD patients are diagnosed at later stages of the disease, new targeted case-finding approaches and tools are necessary. Early diagnosis will allow more cost-effective relevant therapeutic interventions with improved patient outcomes and less economic burden.
COPD research studies, over the last decade, have advanced our knowledge of detailed disease pathophysiology, which has improved our insights into identifying different disease phenotypes and endotypes. This has allowed a more personalized treatment approach for patients and may enable the discovery of new endotypes that can be targeted by using precision medicine, framing the future of COPD treatment. Thus, this research topic aims to highlight current and future advances in the diagnosis and care of COPD patients.
This Research Topic welcomes submissions from leaders in the field, emerging young researchers, and early career investigators. Manuscripts submitted to this research topic should highlight/answer future research questions aiming for improved COPD diagnosis and care. These may include but are not limited to, pathophysiological and imaging studies and innovations in the pharmacological, interventional, and non-pharmacological therapies in COPD including telemedicine and stem cell therapy.
NOTE: Please note that abstract submissions are not mandatory before submitting a manuscript.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common respiratory diseases that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Exposure to toxic particles and gases, including cigarette smoke, is the main risk factor for COPD. Genetic predisposition also plays a major role, which besides toxic exposure type and duration, can determine different disease phenotypes. Patients with COPD often experience troublesome respiratory symptoms, frequent chest infections, and most importantly, are at risk of serious complications such as lung cancer and cardiorespiratory failure. Despite this, there is currently no cure for COPD, but available treatment options (pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and interventional) can help slow disease progression and improve symptoms and quality of life.
Spirometry has always been used as a cornerstone initial test in the diagnosis of COPD. Spirometry is a relatively easy test to conduct and is readily accessible in most centers. Over time, advancements in both physiological and imaging tools have helped to identify early structural and functional changes within the airways, lung parenchyma, and pulmonary vasculature even prior to overt spirometric abnormalities. Furthermore, the addition of respiratory symptoms and exacerbation history to the diagnosis has helped determine disease severity. Given most COPD patients are diagnosed at later stages of the disease, new targeted case-finding approaches and tools are necessary. Early diagnosis will allow more cost-effective relevant therapeutic interventions with improved patient outcomes and less economic burden.
COPD research studies, over the last decade, have advanced our knowledge of detailed disease pathophysiology, which has improved our insights into identifying different disease phenotypes and endotypes. This has allowed a more personalized treatment approach for patients and may enable the discovery of new endotypes that can be targeted by using precision medicine, framing the future of COPD treatment. Thus, this research topic aims to highlight current and future advances in the diagnosis and care of COPD patients.
This Research Topic welcomes submissions from leaders in the field, emerging young researchers, and early career investigators. Manuscripts submitted to this research topic should highlight/answer future research questions aiming for improved COPD diagnosis and care. These may include but are not limited to, pathophysiological and imaging studies and innovations in the pharmacological, interventional, and non-pharmacological therapies in COPD including telemedicine and stem cell therapy.
NOTE: Please note that abstract submissions are not mandatory before submitting a manuscript.