The German COPD cohort COSYCONET: Aims, methods and descriptive analysis of the study population at baseline

Abstract Background The German COPD cohort study COSYCONET (" CO PD and SY stemic consequences- CO morbidities NET work") investigates the interaction of lung disease, comorbidities and systemic inflammation. Recruitment took place from 2010 to 2013 in 31 study centers. In addition to the baseline visit, follow-up visits are scheduled at 6, 18, 36 and 54 months after baseline. The study also comprises a biobank, image bank, and includes health economic data. Here we describe the study design of COSYCONET and present baseline data of our COPD cohort. Methods Inclusion criteria were broad in order to cover a wide range of patterns of the disease. In each visit, patients undergo a large panel …

WITHDRAWN: Scaling up strategies of the Chronic Respiratory Disease programme of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (Action Plan B3 – Area 5)

GOLD and the fixed ratio

We thank Dr Vestbo for his interest in our manuscript “Diagnosis of airway obstruction in the elderly: contribution of the SARA study” and for the opportunity to clarify some points. As mentioned in the title and aims, the intent of the paper is to offer a contribution to the open issue of identification of airway obstruction in elderly people.1 We agree with Dr Vestbo about the utility of distinguishing between the clinical and functional aspects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We stress that, until the term COPD is used, diagnosis needs clinical evidence of a chronic pulmonary disease and functional evidence of airway obstruction. Given that symptoms compatible with COPD …