PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Motahareh Vameghestahbanati
AU  - Leina Kingdom
AU  - Matthew Anacleto-Dabarno
AU  - Eric Hoffman
AU  - Miranda Kirby
AU  - Norrina Allen
AU  - Elsa Angelini
AU  - Alain Bertoni
AU  - Qutayba Hamid
AU  - James Hogg
AU  - David Jacobs
AU  - Andrew Laine
AU  - Francois Maltais
AU  - Erin Michos
AU  - Coralynn Sack
AU  - Don Sin
AU  - Karol Watson
AU  - Artur Wysoczanksi
AU  - Wan Tan
AU  - Jean Bourbeau
AU  - R. Graham Barr
AU  - Benjamin Smith
TI  - Airway tree caliber heterogeneity and airflow obstruction
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2021.PA1875
DP  - 2021 Sep 05
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - PA1875
VI  - 58
IP  - suppl 65
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/58/suppl_65/PA1875.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/58/suppl_65/PA1875.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2021 Sep 05; 58
AB  - Introduction: Mean airway tree caliber is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We investigated whether airway tree caliber heterogeneity was associated with airflow obstruction and COPD independent of mean airway tree caliber.Methods: Two community-based studies (MESA Lung and CanCOLD) performed computed tomography to quantify airway lumen diameters at 19 standard locations (Trachea to subsegments) and total lung volume, spirometry and assessed standard COPD risk factor including cigarette, pipe, cigar, secondhand smoke, occupational exposures, and asthma diagnosis. Percent-predicted airway lumen diameter was calculated for each airway using externally validated reference equations, and airway tree caliber heterogeneity was quantified for each participant as the standard deviation (SD) of their 19 percent-predicted airway lumen diameters. Associations of airway tree caliber heterogeneity with airflow obstruction and COPD were assessed using regression models adjusted for demographics, standard COPD risk factors, and mean airway tree caliber. Secondary analysis restricted to participants free of standard COPD risk factors.Results: Among 2,505 MESA Lung participants (mean±SD age: 69±9 yr; 53% female),those in the highest quartile of airway tree caliber heterogeneity had lower FEV1 (mean difference: -114 ml; P<0.0001), lower FEV1/FVC (-0.02; P<0.001), and higher COPD prevalence (prevalence ratio: 1.67; p=0.009) when compared to participants in the lowest quartile. Similar results were observed in CanCOLD and in participants free of standard COPD risk factors.Conclusion: Among older adults, airway tree caliber heterogeneity was associated with airflow obstruction and COPD independent of mean caliber.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA1875.This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.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).