LATE-BREAKING ABSTRACT: Phenotypes of COPD in central and Eastern Europe - The POPE study

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a major health problem in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. However, data regarding symptom load and clinical phenotypes of patients with COPD in CEE remain largely unknown.

Methods: Participation in the POPE Study (a multicentre, observational cross-sectional survey) was offered to consecutive outpatients with stable COPD in 11 CEE countries if they fulfilled the following criteria: age ≥ 40 years, smoking history ≥ 10 pack-years, post-bronchodilator (BD) FEV₁/FVC < 0.7 and absence of COPD exacerbation ≥ 4 weeks.

Results: 3504 patients (66 ± 8.7 yrs, 69% male, post-BD FEV₁ 53.0 ± 17.5% predicted, Charlson comorbidity index 2.0 ± 1.4, and 1.2 ± 1.6 exacerbations within the last 12 months) were recruited between Apr 2014 and May 2015. The majority of patients were classified as GOLD D or GOLD B (57% and 30.6% of total, respectively). According to predefined phenotypes, 63% of the population were non-exacerbators, 20.5% frequent exacerbators with chronic bronchitis (CB), 9.5% frequent exacerbators without CB, and 7% were patients with asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS). There were statistically significant differences in symptom load and lung function between these phenotypes.

Conclusion: First results of the POPE study offer insight into symptom load, lung function, and phenotypes of COPD in CEE countries.