Abstract
Background: An association between allergy, the presence of environmental allergens and asthma is documented however little is known about potential roles in COPD outcome, and, no study has used next generation sequencing approaches for assessment.
Methods: Stable COPD patients with mild-moderate disease were recruited from Singapore General Hospital (n=11). A home visit was conducted and deep metagenomic analyses performed on samples obtained from (a) Indoor air (bedroom); (b) outdoor air (balcony) and (c) indoor surfaces. Metagenomic data was mapped to the WHO/IUIS allergen Nomenclature and correlated to patient outcomes.
Results: The COPD cohort had a median age of 69 (IQR 66-71) and median FEV1 of 50% predicted (IQR 48-65). A total of 43 established allergens were mapped to the home environment including fungi, house-dust mites and plant. The number of indoor air allergens positively correlated with patient symptoms (CAT score) (r=0.75; p=0.0076) and negatively correlated with lung function (r=-0.61; p=0.047).
Conclusion: A detection through metagenomics of allergens in the home environment correlates with COPD symptoms and lung function. Indoor air is a source of allergens that potentially leads to sensitization in COPD.
Funding: Singapore Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Council under its Research Training Fellowship (NMRC/Fellowship/0049/2017) (P.Y.T) and Clinician-Scientist Individual Research Grant (MOH-000141) (S.H.C). Singapore Ministry of Education’s Academic Research Fund (AcRF) Tier 3 (MOE 2013-T3-1-013) (S.C.S and S.H.C).
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2020; 56: Suppl. 64, 203.
This abstract was presented at the 2020 ERS International Congress, in session “Respiratory viruses in the "pre COVID-19" era”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2020
