Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects close to 400 million peopleworldwide. COPD is characterized by significant airflow limitation on spirometry. Mostpatients with COPD are diagnosed in their fifth or sixth decades of life. However, thedisease begins much earlier. By the time airflow limitation is detected on spirometry,patients with COPD have lost close to 50% of their small airways. Thus, identification ofpatients with early COPD, defined as persons with preserved spirometry, who demonstratepathologic or functional hallmarks of COPD, is essential for disease modificationand ultimately disease elimination. This paper provides an up-to-date overview of thecurrent case definition of early COPD, its importance, the novel technologies requiredfor its detection in young adults and future directions in therapeutics for treatment.