title: Exacerbations of COPD.
abstract: Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are defined as sustained worsening of a patient's condition beyond normal day-to-day variations that is acute in onset, and that may also require a change in medication and/or hospitalization. Exacerbations have a significant and prolonged impact on health status and outcomes, and negative effects on pulmonary function. A significant proportion of exacerbations are unreported and therefore left untreated, leading to a poorer prognosis than those treated. COPD exacerbations are heterogeneous, and various phenotypes have been proposed which differ in biologic basis, prognosis, and response to therapy. Identification of biomarkers could enable phenotype-driven approaches for the management and prevention of exacerbations. For example, several biomarkers of inflammation can help to identify exacerbations most likely to respond to oral corticosteroids and antibiotics, and patients with a frequent exacerbator phenotype, for whom preventative treatment is appropriate. Reducing the frequency of exacerbations would have a beneficial impact on patient outcomes and prognosis. Preventative strategies include modification of risk factors, treatment of comorbid conditions, the use of bronchodilator therapy with long-acting β2-agonists or long-acting muscarinic antagonists, and inhaled corticosteroids. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying COPD exacerbations will help to optimize use of the currently available and new interventions for preventing and treating exacerbations.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Medicine Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Ian D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Pavord
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Science, St George's, University of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Cochin Hospital, University Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Pierre-Régis
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Burgel
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Christian Albrecht University, Kiel, Germany; LungenClinic, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Rabe
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents
keywords: COPD; biomarker; bronchodilator; exacerbation; phenotype