Abstract
Introduction: An allergic phenotype has been reported to be associated with risk of exacerbations in patients with COPD using data from cohort studies conducted in the United States (Jamieson, D.B. et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2013; 188:187-192).
Aim: To assess whether the presence of allergic sensitization is associated with worse baseline characteristics and/or clinical course of patients with COPD in a 5-year prospective observational cohort study.
Methods: A total of 268 subjects (GOLD 1, 26%; GOLD 2, 45%; GOLD 3, 24%; GOLD 4, 5%) who participated in the Hokkaido COPD cohort study conducted in Japan were included for this analysis. Allergic sensitization was evaluated at enrollment by the presence of serum specific IgE for inhaled antigens measured by MAST assay. Results: 67 COPD subjects (25%) had allergic sensitization to at least one inhaled antigen. The presence of allergic sensitization to at least one antigen was not associated with any of lung function (post-bronchodilator FEV1 %predicted), airway reversibility, CT emphysema score, and quality of life (SGRQ score) at baseline, and annual decline in FEV1 and exacerbation frequency during the follow-up period. On the other hand, subjects with allergic sensitization to pollens or fungi had better baseline lung function and lower airway reversibility compared with those without allergic sensitization to them.
Conclusion: In this study, the presence of allergic sensitization was not associated either with worse baseline characteristics or with clinical course of patients with COPD.
- © 2014 ERS