20.11.2024 New Insights into COPD: Two Biomarkers Allow Risk Assessment at Early Stages of the Disease

Marburg Lung Research Advances Diagnosis and Therapy

Researchers at Philipps-Universität Marburg have made progress in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A large-scale study shows that two specific lung markers - the permeability for carbon monoxide and the so-called hyperinflation of the lung - can reliably predict the risk for exacerbation of the disease and for premature death. The researchers, led by Dr. Hendrik Pott from the Institute for Lung Research at Philipps Universität Marburg, report their results in the journal “Respirology”.

COPD affects millions of people worldwide and is one of the leading causes of death. By analyzing a patient cohort from the clinical study COSYCONET, the researchers found that a decrease of the diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide or a hyperinflation of the lung within the study's observation period of 18 months indicate an increased risk of death in the following years. They looked at three different data sets in the patient cohort of around 1,300 people: the development of the disease pattern, the quality of life recorded via questionnaires, and the results of pulmonary function tests. Correlating these attributes with various inflammatory proteins, they found the relevance of the biomarkers.

“These markers aid in identifying particularly vulnerable patients at an early stage and in providing them a better treatment,” explains Dr. Hendrik Pott. COPD, which is often triggered by smoking and air pollution, causes permanent damage to the lungs. With new findings like these, physicians will in the future be able to respond to patients' needs in a better, personalized manner.

Publication: Pott H, Weckler B, Gaffron S, Martin R, Maier D, Alter P, et al. Diffusion capacity and static hyperinflation as markers of disease progression predict 3-year mortality in COPD: Results from COSYCONET. Respirology. 2024.