Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.7
3.0
Journals
JCM
Special Issues
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Treatment and Management
share announcement

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Treatment and Management

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Respiratory Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 5198

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maurizio Marvisi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Internal Medicine, Istituto Figlie di San Camillo, Via Filzi 56, 26100 Cremona, Italy
Interests: lung; spirometry; lung diseases; airway obstruction; asthma management; ventilation; respiratory physiology; allergic diseases; diagnosis; inflammatory bowel disease
Prof. Dr. Alfredo Chetta

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
2. Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Department, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Interests: asthma; lung; sputum; lung diseases; spirometry; airway obstruction; respiratory physiology; cystic fibrosis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global health problem due to its high prevalence (10% of the adult population), rising incidence and very significant associated personal, social, and economic costs. The old view that COPD is a single disease caused by smoking and characterized by an accelerated rate of lung function decline that occurs in (mostly) older males is outdated and incomplete. Recent data support a different pathogenic paradigm that considers that COPD is a polygenic disease with a significant epigenetic component and multiple environmental risk factors  interact and accumulate through life in complex ways to determine the clinical manifestations. Although few novel treatments have been approved for COPD in the past 5 years, advances have been made in targeting specific subpopulations with existing therapies using new biomarker-based strategies. Additionally, COVID-19 has undeniably affected individuals with COPD, who are not only at higher risk for severe disease manifestations than healthy individuals but are also negatively affected by interruptions in healthcare delivery and social isolation. This Special Issue reviews COPD with an emphasis on recent advances in epidemiology, pathophysiology, imaging, diagnosis, and treatment.

Dr. Maurizio Marvisi
Prof. Dr. Alfredo Antonio Chetta
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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.

Keywords

  • COPD
  • treatable traits
  • precision medicine
  • COPD comorbidities
  • COPD mortality

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

13 pages, 2121 KiB  
Article
Mortality Predictors in Patients with Severe COPD Exacerbation
by Elena Cojocaru, Raluca Ecaterina Haliga, Gianina-Valentina Băcescu Ene and Cristian Cojocaru
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(9), 3028; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14093028 - 27 Apr 2025
Viewed by 259
Abstract
Background: Severe acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are a leading cause of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and in-hospital mortality. Several hematological inflammatory biomarkers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), derived NLR (dNLR), and systemic immune-inflammation [...] Read more.
Background: Severe acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are a leading cause of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and in-hospital mortality. Several hematological inflammatory biomarkers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), derived NLR (dNLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), have been proposed as markers of disease severity and mortality. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 104 ICU patients with AECOPD over a two-year period. We collected and analyzed clinical, demographic, and laboratory data. The hematological indices of the two groups—survivors (n = 39) and non-survivors (n = 65)—were compared to assess differences. We used t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square tests, and Mann–Whitney U tests to compare the groups. The factors that independently predicted mortality were identified using multivariate logistic regression. We examined survival differences using Kaplan–Meier analysis, and ROC curves were utilized to evaluate the predictive power of each biomarker. Results: Mortality was substantially predicted by higher SII (OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.24–3.08, p = 0.002) and NLR (OR: 2.89, 95% CI: 1.72–4.82, p < 0.001). Patients with NLR > 8.0 and SII > 1800 had significantly lower survival rates (log-rank p < 0.001), according to Kaplan–Meier analysis. SII (AUC = 0.79) and NLR (AUC = 0.82) were the best predictors of death, according to ROC analysis. Conclusions: In ICU-admitted AECOPD patients, NLR, MLR, PLR, dNLR, and SII are independent predictors of mortality. Due to their ease of evaluation and predictive capabilities, they should be included in ICU risk models for early interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Treatment and Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 242 KiB  
Article
Unmasking Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with COPD at Primary Care Settings: The Critical Role of Age, Sex, and Smoking
by Claire Young, Aaron Courtenay, Kingston Rajiah and Ahmed Abuelhana
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(5), 1444; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14051444 - 21 Feb 2025
Viewed by 510
Abstract
Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory condition frequently associated with cardiovascular comorbidities, including ischemic heart disease (IHD), heart failure (HF), and atrial fibrillation (AF). These conditions significantly impact patient outcomes, yet their prevalence and risk factors remain underexplored in [...] Read more.
Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory condition frequently associated with cardiovascular comorbidities, including ischemic heart disease (IHD), heart failure (HF), and atrial fibrillation (AF). These conditions significantly impact patient outcomes, yet their prevalence and risk factors remain underexplored in primary care settings. This study investigates the role of age, sex, and smoking status in the prevalence of IHD, HF, and AF among patients with COPD managed in general practice settings. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using de-identified electronic health records from eleven general practitioner (GP) practices in Northern Ireland. Patients with COPD were identified through the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) register, and the presence of IHD, HF, and AF was recorded. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests and independent t-tests to examine associations between cardiovascular comorbidities and patient demographics, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Among the total registered population of 77,797, there were 1575 patients with COPD, of whom 335 had IHD, 211 had AF, and 116 had HF. Patients with COPD had a significantly higher prevalence of IHD, AF, and HF compared to those without COPD. Age was a strong determinant, with older age groups, particularly those over 75 years, showing a markedly higher prevalence of all three conditions. Sex analysis revealed that male patients with COPD were significantly more likely to have IHD, AF, and HF than females. However, the association between smoking status and the presence of HF, IHD, or AF was not significantly different between current/ex-smokers and non-smokers. Conclusions: The findings highlight the high burden of cardiovascular comorbidities among patients with COPD in primary care and emphasise the need for routine cardiovascular screening. Given the strong influence of age and sex, targeted risk assessment and management strategies should be prioritised for older and male patients with COPD. The lack of association between smoking and cardiovascular comorbidities suggests that additional risk factors should be considered in cardiovascular risk assessment. A more integrated approach to managing COPD and cardiovascular conditions within general practice settings is essential to improve patient outcomes. Future research should focus on evaluating interventions that enhance early detection and multidisciplinary management of cardiovascular comorbidities in patients with COPD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Treatment and Management)
13 pages, 635 KiB  
Article
Pain and Dyspnea During Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Documentation Audit 2019–2020
by Stephanie Y. Clarke, Marie T. Williams, Kylie N. Johnston and Annemarie L. Lee
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(1), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14010252 - 3 Jan 2025
Viewed by 842
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) assess the severity and impact of both pain and dyspnea in those with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but their frequency of use in clinical practice is unknown. This study aimed to determine the point [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) assess the severity and impact of both pain and dyspnea in those with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but their frequency of use in clinical practice is unknown. This study aimed to determine the point prevalence of pain and dyspnea assessment in patients hospitalized with an acute exacerbation of COPD and the measurement tools applied for this purpose in clinical practice. Methods: Clinical notes and observation charts of patients admitted with acute exacerbations of COPD to a metropolitan hospital in 2019 and 2020 were retrospectively audited to identify the point prevalence of pain and dyspnea assessment, the PROMs applied, and their associated focal periods. Results: Pain and dyspnea were assessed using a PROM in 99% and 8% of cases of acute exacerbation of COPD, respectively. All PROMs used measured symptom intensity. Focal periods were rarely reported in the assessment of pain; in the dyspnea assessment, timeframes predominantly reflected the impact of exertion. Conclusions: At this single health service site, in people hospitalized with an acute exacerbation of COPD, pain was more frequently assessed using a PROM than dyspnea. Understanding factors influencing clinicians’ choice of assessment tools may inform future recommendations for the assessment of these symptoms in people hospitalized with exacerbations of COPD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Treatment and Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 1488 KiB  
Article
Systemic Manifestations of COPD and the Impact of Dual Bronchodilation with Tiotropium/Olodaterol on Cardiac Function and Autonomic Integrity
by Ieva Dimiene, Deimante Hoppenot, Donatas Vajauskas, Lina Padervinskiene, Airidas Rimkunas, Marius Zemaitis, Diana Barkauskiene, Tomas Lapinskas, Egle Ereminiene and Skaidrius Miliauskas
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(10), 2937; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13102937 - 16 May 2024
Viewed by 1501
Abstract
Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has significant systemic manifestations, including cardiovascular morbidity. The main aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of short-term COPD treatment with tiotropium/olodaterol (TIO/OLO) 5/5 μg on cardiac function and autonomic integrity. Methods: Twenty-nine [...] Read more.
Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has significant systemic manifestations, including cardiovascular morbidity. The main aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of short-term COPD treatment with tiotropium/olodaterol (TIO/OLO) 5/5 μg on cardiac function and autonomic integrity. Methods: Twenty-nine patients with newly diagnosed moderate-to-severe COPD were enrolled. We performed pulmonary function tests, cardiac magnetic resonance, cardiac 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) imaging and analysis of blood biomarkers on our study subjects. The correlations between the tests’ results were evaluated at baseline. The changes in pulmonary and cardiac parameters from baseline through 12 weeks were assessed. Results: Significant associations between pulmonary function tests’ results and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), as well as interleukin-22 (IL-22), were observed at baseline. Treatment with TIO/OLO significantly improved lung function as measured by spirometry and body plethysmography. Moreover, we found that the cardiac index increased from 2.89 (interquartile range (IQR) 1.09) to 3.21 L/min/m2 (IQR 0.78) (p = 0.013; N = 18) and the late heart-to-mediastinum ratio improved from 1.88 (IQR 0.37) to 2 (IQR 0.41) (p = 0.026; N = 16) after 12 weeks of treatment. Conclusions: Treatment with TIO/OLO improves lung function and positively impacts cardiac function and autonomic integrity, suggesting that dual bronchodilation might have a potential in decreasing the risk for cardiac events in COPD. Hs-CRP and IL-22 might be beneficial in determining the intensity of systemic inflammation in COPD. Further research with a larger cohort is needed to enhance the initial results of this study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Treatment and Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 3031 KiB  
Article
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin PI M Heterozygotes with Rare Variants: Do They Need a Clinical and Functional Follow-Up?
by Anna Annunziata, Giuseppe Fiorentino, Marco Balestrino, Roberto Rega, Sara Spinelli, Lidia Atripaldi, Alessio Sola, Federica Massaro and Cecilia Calabrese
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(4), 1084; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13041084 - 14 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1236
Abstract
(1) Background: Few data are available on the risk of airway dysfunction in protease inhibitor (PI*) M heterozygotes carrying rare null or deficient allelic variants of the gene SERPINA-1 (PI*MR). (2) Methods: In this observational study, in a cohort of PI*MR [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Few data are available on the risk of airway dysfunction in protease inhibitor (PI*) M heterozygotes carrying rare null or deficient allelic variants of the gene SERPINA-1 (PI*MR). (2) Methods: In this observational study, in a cohort of PI*MR heterozygotes, we evaluated respiratory functional parameters at baseline and at one-year follow-up. Moreover, we compared such parameters with those of the PI*MZ and PI*MS patients. (3) Results: A total of 60 patients were recruited; 35 PI*MR, 11 PI*MZ and 14 PI*MS. At the annual follow-up, the PI*MR and PI*MZ patients demonstrated a significantly higher FEV1 decline than the PI*MS group (p = 0.04 and p = 0.018, respectively). The PI*MR patients showed a significant increase in DLCO annual decline in comparison with the PI*MS group (p = 0.02). At baseline, the PI*MR smoking patients, compared with nonsmokers, showed statistically significant lower values of FEV1, FEV1/FVC and DLCO (p = 0.0004, p < 0.0001, p = 0.007, respectively) and, at the one-year follow-up, they displayed a significantly higher FEV1 and DLCO decline (p = 0.0022, p = 0.011, respectively). PI*MR heterozygotes with COPD showed a significantly higher FEV1, FEV1/FVC and DLCO annual decline in comparison with healthy PI*MR (p = 0.0083, p = 0.043, p = 0.041). (4) Conclusions: These results suggest that PI*MR heterozygotes, particularly smokers with COPD, have a greater annual decline in respiratory functional parameters and need to be monitored. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Treatment and Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop