COPD among never-smokers may represent new clinical phenotype

A recent study may have identified the clinical characteristics of never-smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

In the study, published in BMJ Open Respiratory Journal, investigators examined the characteristics, biomarkers, symptoms, health status, medical history and living conditions among never-smokers, current smokers and ex-smokers with COPD as well as never-smokers and current smokers with normal lung function.

Compared with current smokers and ex-smokers with COPD, never-smokers with the condition experienced better health status, fewer symptoms and milder airflow limitations — but also reported more asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergies compared with the other patient groups. Further, never-smokers with COPD experienced poorer health status, more respiratory symptoms, greater immunoglobulin E sensitizations to aeroallergens, higher geometric mean fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels and higher blood eosinophil counts compared with never-smokers with normal lung function.

Because of the distinct characteristics between never-smokers with COPD and other COPD patient groups, the investigators proposed that this patient group may belong to a separate clinical phenotype and require different management strategies.

Read more: BMJ Open Respiratory Journal

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