Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40461150›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Definitions of early COPD and markers and tools for predicting progression: a systematic review protocol.

Alastair Watson, Gbenga Adesoye, Kane Alexander, Ross Davidson, Fu Chuen Kon, Arnav Sharma, Mosea Song, Isobel Soper, Akhilesh Jha, Marie Fisk

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Definitions of early COPD and predictors for disease progression: a systematic review.European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Small Airway Disease in Pre-COPD and Early COPD: Insights Into the Pulmonary "Silent Zone".International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Alastair WatsonUniversity of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK alastair.watson7@nhs.net.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6735-2567
Gbenga Adesoye *Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
Kane Alexander *Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Ross Davidson *Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6874-3183
Fu Chuen Kon *Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Arnav Sharma *Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
Mosea Song *Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
Isobel Soper *Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
Akhilesh JhaUniversity of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK.
Marie FiskUniversity of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for preventing disease progression. The concept of early COPD is considered to represent the initial phase of the disease course. However, different terms are used, and a standardised definition is lacking. This has hindered research and clinical utility. This systematic review aims first to examine current early COPD research and outline the definitions and terms used to help reach consensus and direct future clinical research. Second, it will identify currently proposed markers and tools for predicting the progression of early COPD and the quality of evidence to help direct future research and facilitate the development of novel management strategies. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study will search for all clinical studies on early COPD, using a standardised search strategy, searching CENTRAL (the Cochrane Library), MEDLINE (Ovid), PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Titles and abstracts will be reviewed and compared against inclusion and exclusion criteria. Stage 1 of this review will assess the terms and definitions used for early COPD. Stage 2 will assess studies presenting additional markers or tools for predicting the progression of early COPD. Study quality will be assessed using a modified Downs and Black checklist for observational studies and the risk of bias (RoB) 2 tool for randomised controlled trials. This protocol has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42025645320). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This systematic review will use freely available data within the literature and will not directly involve human participants; therefore, ethical approval is not required. The results of this systematic review will be prepared and submitted for presentation as conference presentation(s) and for publication as a peer-reviewed article. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42025645320.

Indexed as

Pulmonary Disease, Chronic ObstructiveBiomarkersDisease ProgressionEarly DiagnosisHumansResearch DesignSystematic Reviews as TopicBiomarkersAdult thoracic medicineChronic airways diseaseLung DiseasesRESPIRATORY MEDICINE (see Thoracic Medicine)Systematic Review

Identifiers

PMID40461150
PMCPMC12142007

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.