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Current Understanding and Management of Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 May 2026) | Viewed by 166

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Division of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Interests: lung diseases; respiratory mechanics; pulmonary medicine

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represent two of the most prevalent chronic respiratory conditions worldwide, with a substantial impact on morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Despite important advances in pharmacological therapies, clinical guidelines, and preventive strategies, many patients still experience uncontrolled symptoms, recurrent exacerbations, and significant limitations in daily activities. The heterogeneity of disease presentation, overlapping phenotypes, and frequent comorbidities make both asthma and COPD challenging to diagnose, classify, and treat effectively.

This Special Issue will provide an updated and comprehensive overview of the current understanding and clinical management of asthma and COPD. We welcome original research articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses addressing epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiological mechanisms, and disease phenotyping. Special attention will be given to studies that explore the role of inflammation, genetic and epigenetic factors, biomarkers, and advanced imaging or functional techniques in guiding personalized treatment.

In addition, we are particularly interested in contributions highlighting emerging therapeutic strategies, such as novel inhaled drugs, biologics, non-pharmacological interventions, and rehabilitation programs. Digital health solutions, including telemedicine, remote monitoring, and artificial intelligence-based tools, are becoming increasingly relevant and will be a central focus of this Special Issue. Integrating technology with multidisciplinary and patient-centered care models has the potential to improve adherence, optimize outcomes, and reduce the burden of disease.

We strongly encourage authors to include figures, tables, and graphical abstracts to improve the clarity and dissemination of results. By gathering high-quality contributions from international experts, this Special Issue will advance knowledge, foster innovation, and provide clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals with a curated collection of evidence-based insights to support daily decision-making in the management of asthma and COPD.

Dr. Josuel Ora
Guest Editor

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. 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

  • asthma
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • personalized medicine
  • exacerbations
  • biomarkers
  • inhalation therapy
  • digital health
  • artificial intelligence
  • pulmonary rehabilitation
  • comorbidities

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

23 pages, 1414 KB  
Review
Loneliness in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Multidimensional Determinant of Clinical Outcomes and Disease Management
by Aminah Mengash and Rayan A. Siraj
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(10), 3962; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15103962 - 21 May 2026
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) imposes a substantial physical and psychosocial burden, yet the role of loneliness remains under-recognised in clinical practice. Loneliness, defined as a subjective discrepancy between desired and actual social relationships, has emerged as a clinically relevant determinant of patient [...] Read more.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) imposes a substantial physical and psychosocial burden, yet the role of loneliness remains under-recognised in clinical practice. Loneliness, defined as a subjective discrepancy between desired and actual social relationships, has emerged as a clinically relevant determinant of patient outcomes. This narrative review synthesises current evidence on the epidemiology, mechanisms, and clinical consequences of loneliness in COPD, and evaluates its implications for disease management. Available evidence indicates that loneliness affects a considerable proportion of individuals with COPD, with prevalence estimates ranging from approximately 18% to over 30%, particularly among patients with greater symptom burden, functional limitation, and oxygen dependence. Dyspnoea and advancing disease severity reduce social participation and increase vulnerability to perceived social disconnection. Loneliness influences COPD outcomes through interconnected behavioural, biological, and healthcare engagement pathways, including systemic inflammation, neuroendocrine stress responses, physical inactivity, impaired self-management, and reduced engagement with healthcare services. These mechanisms contribute to poorer clinical trajectories, as loneliness is consistently associated with reduced health-related quality of life, increased exacerbations, higher healthcare utilisation, greater risk of hospitalisation, and elevated mortality, independent of depression and anxiety. Despite this, loneliness is rarely assessed in routine respiratory care, and targeted interventions remain limited. Emerging strategies, including pulmonary rehabilitation, peer support, and digital health interventions, show promise in reducing loneliness and improving outcomes. Loneliness represents a modifiable and clinically actionable risk factor in COPD, and its integration into routine assessment and management may enhance patient engagement, optimise treatment effectiveness, and reduce healthcare burden. Addressing loneliness represents a critical opportunity to advance more effective and comprehensive COPD care. Full article
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