What will Happen in the World of COPD 2030?

Özet

2030 may seem to be a long way into the future, but it’s not. We live in a world of relentless rapid change in modern medicine and ourapproach to our patients with chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will need to evolve at speed.This review looks at what may occur in society and medicine that will influence the way we manage COPD. The article is the opinionof the authors and is based upon current research at the cutting edge of management with a degree of gazing into a dimly lit crystal ball.COPD is a current epidemic, and this is likely to continue. Legislative efforts to reduce smoking will continue and hopefully accelerate,but this will not be globally accepted or successful. Technological advances will occur that will lead to miniaturization and the rise ofnear patient testing. This itself will enable a personalised approach to management with the ability to measure rapidly biomarkers whichwill direct therapy. The blood eosinophil is the most promising of these and is available now. New developments in the identificationof disease clusters and phenotypes will also enhance a more personalised approach. Through both these epidemiological studies andalso new developments in the understanding of basic mechanisms it is hoped that in the future patients will be given treatments thatmay fundamentally change the prognosis of COPD. Small molecule and antibody directed therapies may, if given early enough, stop andeven possibly reverse the effects of COPD on cells and organs. Of course, the most important step which is achievable now is to ban alltobacco-based products from the world.