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[Pathomechanisms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)]
Thomas Glaab1, Jens M Hohlfeld, Rudolf A Jörres
1Abteilung Pneumologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Deutschland.
Insights
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a growing global health issue. Understanding its complex mechanisms is crucial for developing better treatments for this underdiagnosed condition.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Pathophysiology
Context:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide.
- Its prevalence is underestimated, particularly in Germany, due to late-stage symptom manifestation and diagnosis.
- Significant health-economic costs are associated with COPD management.
Purpose:
- To review current concepts in COPD pathophysiology.
- To discuss the scientific basis of these concepts.
- To provide a detailed description of pathomechanisms underlying chronic obstructive bronchiolitis and pulmonary emphysema.
Summary:
- COPD pathogenesis involves complex mechanisms leading to chronic obstructive bronchiolitis and pulmonary emphysema.
- Current understanding of COPD pathophysiology is insufficient for developing effective long-term therapeutic strategies.
- Late diagnosis and limited treatment efficacy highlight the need for deeper insights into disease mechanisms.
Impact:
- A comprehensive understanding of COPD pathomechanisms is essential for advancing therapeutic strategies.
- This review aims to deepen the scientific understanding of COPD.
- Improved knowledge may lead to earlier diagnosis and more effective management of COPD.
Abstract:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide, and its morbidity and mortality are still increasing. Thus, it is expected that, globally, COPD will be the third most common cause of death by 2020. Moreover, COPD leads to enormous health-economic costs (i. e., outpatient and inpatient treatment, inability to work). Nevertheless, the prevalence of COPD is underestimated also in Germany. This is partly because often, the disease is symptomatic only in its advanced stages and as a result it is not diagnosed until late. In addition, the therapeutic effects on the long-term course and the progression of the disease are limited. Therefore, a much deeper understanding of the manifold and complex pathomechanisms of this pathomorphologically varied disease is needed before new therapeutic strategies can be developed. The aim of this review is to discuss current concepts of the pathophysiology of COPD and their scientific bases. The authors will concentrate mainly on a differentiated description of the pathomechanisms which cause chronic obstructive bronchiolitis and obstructive pulmonary emphysema.
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