Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease phenotypes: Are they really useful in clinical practice?

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortalityworldwide. It is a complex and heterogeneous disease. In recent years, studies showed that forcedexpiratory volume in 1 s solely was not enough to describe heterogeneity of COPD patients, andsubsequently, phenotypes of COPD were identified. The aim of phenotyping is the classificationof patients into distinct subgroups according to the prognosis and response to therapy so that theselection of optimal therapy can be possible, and this clinical approach may improve prognosis.In the assessment and management of the disease, it is important to consider phenotype of aCOPD patient. The aim of this article is to review predefined COPD phenotypes, their clinical andepidemiological features, and usefulness in clinical practice for accurate diagnosis and appropriatetreatment of COPD patients.