Diagnosis | Detection of early abnormalities | Are there noninvasive (minimally invasive) methods to find early morphological changes in airways, lung parenchyma, or both? |
| Effectiveness of different definitions and/or thresholds | Beyond the endless argument on respiratory thresholds, is one definition better than others for determining individual and group morbidity/mortality? |
| Monitoring progression/decline in lung function and other | Are there lung function abnormalities predicting FEV1 decline? |
Is the decline in lung function different depending on phenotype? |
Can we develop new biomarkers to facilitate studies? |
Epidemiology | Spread of the burden of COPD | How frequent is COPD in countries with “blank” data of chronic lung disease? |
Is the COPD burden homogenous in time and place? |
| Risk factors and comorbidities | Tobacco in COPD: how and when? |
Anything else beyond tobacco? |
Role of physical activity |
| Use of lung function at the patient and population level | Screening for COPD; who, how, and when? |
Can the incidence of COPD be estimated by lung function tests? |
Basic science | Mechanisms, muscle and infection | What are the mechanisms by which COPD manifests in only less than half of subjects exposed to risk factors? |
Why do some patients develop a bronchitic phenotype while others develop emphysema or other? |
What is the role of airway smooth muscle versus remodelling in different phenotypes? |
What is the role of mucous hypersecretion in the pathogenesis of COPD? |
What mechanisms underlie skeletal muscle dysfunction in COPD? |
Drugs and treatments | Efficacy, safety and effectiveness of current and new drugs | How are responses to treatments in different phenotypes? |
What are the effects of comorbidities on the response to different treatments? |
Are outcomes in respiratory services the same in internal medicine or primary care? |
Rehabilitation and other non-drug interventions | Efficacy, safety and effectiveness of exercise training and noninvasive ventilation | Has exercise training long-lasting efficacy? Is it safe in all patients? |
Rehabilitation in complex patients (CHF, obesity and ICU, etc.) |
Pharmacological and nonpharmacological strategies to enhance rehabilitation outcomes |
Home pulmonary rehabilitation and the role of education |
Any nonconventional treatments producing objective, positive outcomes? |
Anything else reducing exacerbations |