Southampton research group raise awareness for World COPD Day
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health problem in the UK. Up to 10% of the adult UK population are affected, with cigarette smoke often being the trigger. When COPD develops, the condition can cause symptoms such as breathlessness, exacerbations and the accelerated development of comorbidities, especially heart disease. This means that patients with COPD are at risk of premature death.
Professor Tom Wilkinson leads the Southampton COPD research team on the British Lung Foundation (BLF) Early COPD study and is part of a national network of eight centres working collaboratively to establish a national cohort.
Most existing research has focused primarily on patients with well-established COPD and poor lung function. Funded by the British Lung Foundation, the BLF Early COPD study aims to investigate ways of reducing health problems and developing a strategy which focuses on patients with milder disease, providing a way of identifying patients who will develop severe problems.
The study involves the monitoring of pulmonary function of smokers aged between 30 and 45, in whom the trajectories of lung function decline will be examined to identify those at risk of COPD development. Professor Wilkinson explains, “Patients are commonly diagnosed with COPD on the onset of symptoms. However, at this stage, the disease is usually already well-established and at present there is no pharmacological therapy that can reliably slow disease progression.
“The main objective of this research is to investigate the very early stages of COPD, to help us understand the inflammatory basis of excess lung function loss and further accelerate the discovery of biomarkers for earlier diagnosis and better treatment. Participants in the study will also be offered guidance and support on how to quit smoking. This novel study brings together world class scientists and clinicians who will help understand the important mechanisms of early disease and work towards a way of preventing COPD.”
The study hopes to recruit 1,000 participants across the UK. Professor Wilkinson says, “Our recruitment response has been very promising so far and the whole team remains excited as we continue to provide this invaluable research opportunity to the wider community.
“COPD remains an increasingly prevalent and challenging conundrum for health care professionals and service providers worldwide with important implications for patients contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. In order to combat this, new research is needed, and treatment regimens are required which truly address the intricate and precise biological mechanisms that commence and sustain the development of this heterogeneous disease.”
World COPD Day, which took place on 20 November earlier this year, is an international day aimed at recognising COPD and improving care for the disease around the world. Reflecting on this significant awareness day, Professor Wilkinson says, “In conjunction with World COPD Day, our research group worked closely with the local integrated COPD team at University Hospital Southampton to organise impactful educational sessions, not only at the hospital but also at resident schools with various hands-on activities for students to improve COPD awareness in our future generation.”
