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Background and objective: The availability of chest computed tomography (CT) imaging can help diagnose comorbidities associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Their systematic identification and relationship with all‐cause mortality have not been explored. Furthermore, whether their CT‐detected prevalence differs from clinical diagnosis is unknown. Methods: The prevalence of 10 CT‐assessed comorbidities was retrospectively determined at baseline in 379 patients (71% men) with mild to severe COPD attending pulmonary clinics. Anthropometrics, smoking history, dyspnoea, lung function, exercise capacity, BODE (BMI, Obstruction, Dyspnoea and Exercise capacity) index and exacerbations rate were recorded. The prevalence of CT‐determined comorbidities was compared with that recorded clinically. Over a median of 78 months of observation, the independent association with all‐cause mortality was analysed. A 'CT‐comorbidome' graphically expressed the strength of their association with mortality risk. Results: Coronary artery calcification, emphysema and bronchiectasis were the most prevalent comorbidities (79.8%, 62.7% and 33.9%, respectively). All were underdiagnosed before CT. Coronary artery calcium (hazard ratio [HR] 2.09; 95% CI 1.03–4.26, p = 0.042), bronchiectasis (HR 2.12; 95% CI 1.05–4.26, p = 0.036) and low psoas muscle density (HR 2.61; 95% CI 1.23–5.57, p = 0.010) were independently associated with all‐cause mortality and helped define the 'CT‐comorbidome'. Conclusion: This study of COPD patients shows that systematic detection of 10 CT‐diagnosed comorbidities, most of which were not detected clinically, provides information of potential use to patients and clinicians caring for them. This multicentric study shows that chest computed tomography (CT) to evaluate the presence of 10 comorbidities detects important pathologies not diagnosed in the clinical management of those patients. While emphysema, coronary artery calcification (CAC) and bronchiectasis were the most prevalent CT‐detected comorbidities, CAC, bronchiectasis and low Psoas muscle density were independently associated with all‐cause mortality. See relatedEditorial [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) does not promote diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (Dlco) values in the evaluation of COPD. In GOLD spirometric stage I COPD patients, the clinical and prognostic impact of a low Dlco has not been explored.Research Question: Could a Dlco threshold help define an increased risk of death and a different clinical presentation in these patients?Study Design and Methods: GOLD stage I COPD patients (n = 360) were enrolled and followed over 109 ± 50 months. Age, sex, pack-years' history, BMI, dyspnea, lung function measurements, exercise capacity, BODE index, and history of exacerbations were recorded. A cutoff value for Dlco was identified for all-cause mortality and the clinical and physiological characteristics of patients above and below the threshold compared. Cox regression analysis explored the predictive power of that cutoff value for all-cause mortality.Results: A Dlco cutoff value of <60% predicted was associated with all-cause mortality (Dlco ≥ 60%: 9% vs Dlco < 60%: 23%, P = .01). At a same FEV1% predicted and Charlson score, patients with Dlco < 60% had lower BMI, more dyspnea, lower inspiratory capacity (IC)/total lung capacity (TLC) ratio, lower 6-min walk distance (6MWD), and higher BODE. Cox multiple regression analysis confirmed that after adjusting for age, sex, pack-years history, smoking status, and BMI, a Dlco < 60% is associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 95% CI = 3.37, 1.35-8.39; P = .009) INTERPRETATION: In GOLD I COPD patients, a Dlco < 60% predicted is associated with increased risk of death and worse clinical presentation. What the cause(s) of this association are and whether they can be treated need to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: COPD is an independent risk factor for lung cancer, especially in patients with mild to moderate disease. Objective: To determine if performing lung cancer screening in GOLD 1 and 2 COPD patients, results in reduced lung cancer mortality. Methods: This study compared patients with mild to moderate COPD from 2 cohorts matched for age, gender, BMI, FEV1%, pack-yrs history and smoking status. The screening group (SG) had an annual low dose computed tomography (LDCT). The control group (CG) was prospectively followed with usual care. Lung cancer incidence and mortality densities were compared between groups. Results: From an initial sample of 410 (SG) and 735 (CG) patients we were able to match 333 patients from each group. At the same follow-up time lung cancer incidence density was 1.79/100 person-years in the SG and 4.14/100 person-years in the CG (p = 0.004). The most frequent histological type was adenocarcinoma in both SG and CG (65% and 46%, respectively), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (25% and 37%, respectively). Eighty percent of lung cancers in the SG (16/20) were diagnosed in stage I, and all of CG cancers (35/35) were in stage III or IV. Mortality incidence density from lung cancer (0.08 vs. 2.48/100 person-years, p < 0.001) was lower in the SG. Conclusions: This pilot study in patients with mild to moderate COPD suggests that screening with LDCT detects lung cancer in early stages, and could decrease lung cancer mortality in that high risk group. Appropriately designed studies should confirm these important findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]