Advances in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Dear Colleagues,

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) continues to represent a major global health challenge. Current projections from the World Health Organization indicate that COPD will rank among the leading causes of mortality worldwide by 2030. Its prevalence is steadily increasing, particularly in aging populations and in regions where exposure to tobacco smoke and environmental pollutants remains high. As the disease progresses, patients are prone to recurrent exacerbations that accelerate the decline in lung function and profoundly impair daily functioning and quality of life.

The clinical and socioeconomic burden of COPD is substantial. Hospitalizations, chronic pharmacological treatments, and ongoing outpatient management contribute significantly to healthcare expenditure, while disability and absenteeism further extend its impact at the societal level. In addition, COPD frequently coexists with complex comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and mood disorders. These conditions complicate disease management and exacerbate morbidity and overall health deterioration.

Emerging evidence suggests that COPD is a heterogeneous disease with strong polygenic and epigenetic influences. Advances in molecular profiling and biomarker research have begun to refine patient stratification and guide individualized therapeutic strategies. However, challenges remain in improving early detection, predicting disease trajectories, and identifying targets capable of modifying disease progression.

This Special Issue, “Advances in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)”, invites original research and comprehensive reviews focused on innovative diagnostic, mechanistic, and therapeutic perspectives. We particularly encourage submissions that deepen understanding of molecular and cellular pathways, elucidate phenotypic variability, or introduce novel approaches that may inform precision medicine strategies in COPD.

We look forward to contributions that may help reshape current paradigms and advance the field toward more effective and personalized patient care.

Dr. Fabio Manzo
Dr. Pasquale Ambrosino
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.