Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease subpopulations and phenotyping

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Internal Medicine
• Precision Medicine

Background:

• Current chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnosis and treatment rely on a generalized approach.
• This standard method offers symptomatic relief but has limited impact on disease prognosis.
• Patient heterogeneity in COPD suggests distinct disease trajectories and responses to interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review distinct subgroups within COPD based on unique pathophysiologic characteristics.
• To emphasize the need for a precision medicine approach in managing COPD.
• To highlight how identifying subgroups can facilitate the development of disease-modifying therapies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on COPD pathophysiology, clinical features, and treatment responses.
• Analysis of distinct patient subgroups within the COPD spectrum.
• Integration of clinical, physiological, imaging, and endotyping data.

Main Results:

• Patients with COPD exhibit significant heterogeneity, leading to varied disease progression.
• Distinct COPD subgroups possess unique pathophysiologic derangements and treatment responses.
• Subgroup identification is crucial for developing targeted, disease-modifying therapeutic strategies.

Conclusions:

• A one-size-fits-all approach to COPD is inadequate due to significant patient heterogeneity.
• Recognizing distinct COPD subgroups is essential for advancing treatment strategies.
• A precision approach integrating multiple data dimensions is necessary to improve COPD management and outcomes.