Pre-COPD: How do we diagnose and treat it?

COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, causes an enormous burden on healthcare systems around the world. Despite it being a debilitating disease which leads to significant morbidity, mortality and disability, it is widely underdiagnosed and undertreated.

The key is to diagnose and intervene early. Therefore, researchers introduced the term "pre-COPD" to define those patients who are at high risk of developing COPD. However, it is paramount that there is a clear operational definition of what pre-COPD is, how it is measured and how it is defined. It's vital to assess whether the benefits of using such a new label outweigh the associated problems.

To help us answer key questions based on this topic, EUFOREA invited Prof. Frederik Trinkmann. Prof. Trinkmann is a Senior Physician in Pneumonolgy & Deputy Head of Pneumology and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Heidelberg, in Germany.