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Review
. 2015 Mar;21(2):133-41.
doi: 10.1097/MCP.0000000000000145.

The chronic bronchitis phenotype in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: features and implications

Victor Kim  1 , Gerard J Criner
Affiliations
Review

The chronic bronchitis phenotype in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: features and implications

Victor Kim et al. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2015 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem that is projected to rank fifth worldwide in terms of disease burden and third in terms of mortality. Chronic bronchitis is associated with multiple clinical consequences, including hastening lung function decline, increasing risk of exacerbations, reducing health-related quality of life, and possibly raising all-cause mortality. Recent data suggest greater elucidation on the risk factors, radiologic characteristics, and treatment regimens. Our goal was to review the literature on chronic bronchitis that has been published in the past few years.

Recent findings: A growing body of literature that more carefully describes environmental risk factors, epidemiology, and genetics associated with chronic bronchitis. In addition, as computed tomography technology continues to improve, the radiologic phenotype associated with chronic bronchitis is better understood.

Summary: With these new data, the clinician can recognize the newly described risk factors and the associated phenotype for chronic bronchitis and entertain new treatment options for this high-risk population.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Disclosures

VK is supported by NHLBI K23HL094696. VK has participated in clinical trials sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, Glaxo-Smith-Kline, and Roche pharmaceuticals, and has served on Advisory Committees for CSA and a peer reviewer for Medscape. VK is also the Chair elect for the Critical Care Medicine subcommittee in the American Board of Internal Medicine, and received honoraria from the American College of Chest Physicians for a COPD Prep course. GJC has served on Advisory Committees for Boehringer Ingelheim, CSA, Amirall and Holaira. All of these sums are less than $2,500. GJC has received research grants from: Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, MedImmune, Pearl, Actelion, Glaxo-Smith-Kline, Forest, Aeris, Therapeutics, Pulmonx and PneumRx. All research grant monies are deposited and controlled by Temple University.

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