Conclusions

This study will increase our understanding of COPD phenotypes and underlying pathophysiology of emphysema, which may help in the development of new drugs to slow COPD progression

• Baseline data from 443 participants confirm the high prevalence of imaging abnormalities in ex-smokers without airflow limitation
• We observed a similar pattern of distribution for high-/low-risk disease subjects by GOLD status (based on the emphysema and airway disease axes) as was observed in the COPDGene® study
• This ongoing study will assess disease phenotypes and pathways involved in COPD. It may help to identify patients with differing risks for, and rates of, emphysema progression, along with associated biomarkers

Abbreviations: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.