Pre-COPD: Impact on prevention, detection, and treatment

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Respiratory Medicine
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Identifying individuals at risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant clinical challenge.
• The concept of pre-COPD aims to identify individuals without current airflow obstruction but at high risk for COPD progression.
• Existing biomarkers for COPD development are numerous but lack definitive predictive power.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define the concept of pre-COPD.
• To review biomarkers associated with the future development of COPD.
• To discuss the clinical implications of pre-COPD for patient management.

Main Methods:

• This study employed a narrative review methodology.
• Literature search focused on pre-COPD, risk factors, biomarkers, and clinical management.
• Synthesis of findings to establish a framework for pre-COPD.

Main Results:

• The pre-COPD framework facilitates the identification of at-risk individuals.
• Pre-COPD is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.
• Multimodal risk prediction scores and practical clinical definitions for pre-COPD are emerging.

Conclusions:

• The pre-COPD concept addresses critical gaps in screening and care for at-risk populations.
• A defined pre-COPD framework aids in identifying individuals prone to COPD progression.
• Further research is necessary for optimal clinical screening and management strategies for pre-COPD.