At High Risk: Understanding COPD Exacerbations and Type 2 Inflammation
Exacerbations are critical events in COPD care that can lead to long-term lung function decline and increased mortality. PA Bizik explains how to classify exacerbations and identify high-risk patients, especially those with eosinophilic COPD. Despite optimal inhaled therapy, many patients still experience exacerbations—prompting the need to consider additional options such as biologics. Recognizing and managing T2I is key to preventing hospitalizations and improving patient outcomes.
Key Takeaways:
- Exacerbations are life-changing events that have lasting impact on patient health.
- Delaying treatment is associated with an increased risk of exacerbations.
- It’s important to identify those at highest risk for exacerbations, and this includes patients with eosiniphilic COPD.
Speaker
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References and Additional Resources:
Dalal AA, Shah MB, D’Souza AO, Lunacsek OE, Nagar SP, Crater GD. Observational study of the outcomes and costs of initiating maintenance therapies in patients with moderate exacerbations of COPD. Respir Res. 2012;13:41. doi:10.1186/1465-9921-13-41
Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Mangement, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.; 2025. https://goldcopd.org/2025-gold-report/
Hansel TT, Barnes PJ. New drugs for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Lancet. 2009;374(9691):744-755. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61342-8
Lipson DA, Barnhart F, Brealey N, et al. Once-daily single-inhaler triple versus dual therapy in patients with COPD. N Engl J Med. 2018;378(18):1671-1680. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1713901
Rothnie KJ, Müllerová H, Smeeth L, Quint JK. Natural history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations in a general practice-based population with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2018;198(4):464-471. doi:10.1164/rccm.201710-2029OC
Suissa S, Dell’Aniello S, Ernst P. Long-term natural history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: severe exacerbations and mortality. Thorax. 2012;67(11):957-963. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2011-201518
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