One minute to ignite new thinking in COPD
- Article
- Campus Sanofi
- Apr 1, 2024
The article "Current Unmet Needs for Patients with COPD" features insights from a round table discussion involving leading respiratory experts. It focuses on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a heterogeneous and progressive condition. The experts explore various aspects, such as the role of inflammatory pathways in disease progression, the importance of biomarkers in COPD management, and the significant global burden of COPD. The discussion also highlights the challenges in diagnosing COPD early, the impact of exacerbations on lung function and quality of life, and the need for more personalized treatment approaches .
This article highlights the stability and predictive value of blood eosinophil levels in COPD, showing their strong link to exacerbation risk. Consistently elevated eosinophil levels can guide personalized treatment, including early use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). Integrating eosinophil measurements into routine practice can improve long-term disease management and patient outcomes.
Exacerbations are key events in COPD1 that play a crucial role in disease progression. Although often managed in outpatient settings, exacerbations contribute significantly to the overall burden of COPD.2 These events are characterized by an acute worsening of respiratory symptoms, including increased dyspnea associated with cough and production of purulent sputum, increased wheezing and chest discomfort.1,3 These characteristics reflect an underlying inflammatory response2 that exacerbates the disease process.