European Respiratory Review (Jun 2015)

An official American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society statement: research questions in COPD

  • Bartolome R. Celli,
  • Marc Decramer,
  • Jadwiga A. Wedzicha,
  • Kevin C. Wilson,
  • Alvar A. Agustí,
  • Gerard J. Criner,
  • William MacNee,
  • Barry J. Make,
  • Stephen I. Rennard,
  • Robert A. Stockley,
  • Claus Vogelmeier,
  • Antonio Anzueto,
  • David H. Au,
  • Peter J. Barnes,
  • Pierre-Regis Burgel,
  • Peter M. Calverley,
  • Ciro Casanova,
  • Enrico M. Clini,
  • Christopher B. Cooper,
  • Harvey O. Coxson,
  • Daniel J. Dusser,
  • Leonardo M. Fabbri,
  • Bonnie Fahy,
  • Gary T. Ferguson,
  • Andrew Fisher,
  • Monica J. Fletcher,
  • Maurice Hayot,
  • John R. Hurst,
  • Paul W. Jones,
  • Donald A. Mahler,
  • François Maltais,
  • David M. Mannino,
  • Fernando J. Martinez,
  • Marc Miravitlles,
  • Paula M. Meek,
  • Alberto Papi,
  • Klaus F. Rabe,
  • Nicolas Roche,
  • Frank C. Sciurba,
  • Sanjay Sethi,
  • Nikos Siafakas,
  • Don D. Sin,
  • Joan B. Soriano,
  • James K. Stoller,
  • Donald P. Tashkin,
  • Thierry Troosters,
  • Geert M. Verleden,
  • Johny Verschakelen,
  • Jorgen Vestbo,
  • John W. Walsh,
  • George R. Washko,
  • Robert A. Wise,
  • Emiel F.M. Wouters,
  • Richard L. ZuWallack

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1183/16000617.00000315
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 136
pp. 159 – 172

Abstract

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality and resource use worldwide. The goal of this official American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) Research Statement is to describe evidence related to diagnosis, assessment, and management; identify gaps in knowledge; and make recommendations for future research. It is not intended to provide clinical practice recommendations on COPD diagnosis and management. Clinicians, researchers and patient advocates with expertise in COPD were invited to participate. A literature search of Medline was performed, and studies deemed relevant were selected. The search was not a systematic review of the evidence. Existing evidence was appraised and summarised, and then salient knowledge gaps were identified. Recommendations for research that addresses important gaps in the evidence in all areas of COPD were formulated via discussion and consensus. Great strides have been made in the diagnosis, assessment and management of COPD, as well as understanding its pathogenesis. Despite this, many important questions remain unanswered. This ATS/ERS research statement highlights the types of research that leading clinicians, researchers and patient advocates believe will have the greatest impact on patient-centred outcomes.