Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 18, 2026
Generation of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model in Mice by Repeated Ozone Exposure
Published on: August 25, 2017
Clinical Characteristics of Individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Pre-COPD, Smokers with
Jong Geol Jang1, Youlim Kim2, Jung-Kyu Lee3
1Division of Pulmonology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Background:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous lung disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation and is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Pre-COPD refers to a pre-disease state associated with an increased risk of COPD development. This study aims to evaluate the clinical characteristics of individuals with COPD, pre-COPD, and smokers with normal lung function in South Korea, and to provide an updated analysis of the Korea COPD subgroup study (KOCOSS) cohort data.
Methods:
We analyzed data from 4,502 participants in the KOCOSS database collected between 2012 and 2025, including 4,197 with COPD, 126 with pre-COPD, and 179 smokers with normal lung function. Baseline characteristics were compared across these groups.
Results:
Patients with COPD were more likely to be male, older, and had a lower body mass index than those with pre-COPD and smokers with normal lung function. Symptom burden, as assessed by the COPD Assessment Test and modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale, was highest in patients with COPD, followed by pre- COPD and smokers with normal lung function. Patients with COPD had the highest overall use of respiratory medications (89.3%), including inhalers and other treatments, followed by pre-COPD individuals (61.5%) and smokers with normal lung function (47.4%). Hypertension was the most common comorbidity across all groups, with no significant differences in the prevalence of comorbidities.
Conclusion:
This analysis of the KOCOSS cohort highlights the distinct clinical characteristics of individuals with COPD, pre-COPD, and smokers with normal lung function. Notably, individuals without spirometric COPD still showed substantial symptom burden and inhaler use.
More Related Videos
04:03Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Therapeutic Efficacy of Moving Cupping Along Meridians for Acute Exacerbation of COPD
Published on: September 27, 2024
07:10Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 24, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:22Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
01:20COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
01:25Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD:
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation