Risk factors of acute exacerbation and disease progression in young patients with COPD

We aimed to elucidate the clinical factors associated with acute exacerbation and disease progression in young patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

This retrospective longitudinal observational study included patients with COPD aged between 20 and 50 years with post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁)/forced vital capacity (FVC)<0.7. Eligible patients were followed up with ≥2 spirometry examinations at 1 year interval after COPD diagnosis. The primary outcome was moderate-to-severe acute exacerbation in young patients with COPD. Secondary outcomes were early initiation of regular inhalation therapy and accelerated annual post-bronchodilator FEV₁ decline.

A total of 342 patients were followed up during a median of 64 months. In multivariable analyses, risk factors for moderate-to-severe exacerbation were history of asthma (adjusted HR (aHR)=2.999, 95% CI=[2.074-4.335]), emphysema (aHR=1.951, 95% CI=[1.331-2.960]), blood eosinophil count >300/µL (aHR=1.469, 95% CI=[1.038-2.081]) and low FEV₁ (%) (aHR=0.979, 95% CI=[0.970-0.987]). A history of asthma, sputum, blood eosinophil count >300/µL, low FEV₁ (%) and low diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DL_CO) (%) were identified as clinical factors associated with the early initiation of regular inhalation therapy. The risk factors associated with worsened FEV₁ decline were increasing age, female sex, history of pulmonary tuberculosis, sputum, low FEV₁ (%) and low DL_CO (%).

In young COPD patients, specific high-risk features of acute exacerbation and disease progression need to be identified, including a history of previous respiratory diseases, current respiratory symptoms, blood eosinophil counts, and structural or functional pulmonary impairment.