COSYCONET STUDY

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MEANING

COSYCONET = German COPD and Systemic Consequences – Comorbidities Network

A study on systemic manifestations and comorbidities of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its clinical course

BACKGROUND

The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD is a progressive dysfunction of the lung due to irreversible structural impairment. It is associated to increased mortality, and can be caused by an excessive immune reaction to harmful particles such as found in cigarette smoke. The risk of exacerbations of the structural disease is high, and patients can experience dyspnea¹. The severity of COPD is accessed by recommendations of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD)² and classified into four stages. The progression and severity of the disease are largely affected by comorbidities³, especially cardiovascular conditions. In another prospective study, acute exacerbation of COPD was shown to be a predictor of severe clinical outcomes. 

COPD therapy depends on the frequency of exacerbations and severity of symptoms. In the worst case, hospitalisation and even fatality can be the result of an exacerbation. Thus, early identification of an exacerbation can be critical to a successful therapy. This requires knowledge on pathophysiology of the disease and its correlations to potential comorbidities.

STUDY OBJECTIVES

  1. Observation and description of clinical courses and disease progression to identify clinically relevant phenotypes.
  2. Description of interactions of COPD with extra-pulmonary comorbidities which can be the result of prolonged systemic inflammation.
  3. Description of the effect of COPD on the quality of life of the patient in correlation with disease progression.
  4. Investigation of the health care costs due to COPD.
  5. Analysis of different treatment strategies.
  6. Identification of biomarkers for diagnosis and risk stratification.

TIMEFRAME

 A first study period was conducted 2010-2013 and recruited 2741 patients, followed by a second study period that has been active since 2020 with the goal to recruit 600 patients. Each patient is observed over the course of 7 years.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Patients over 39 with diagnosis COPD are eligible

STUDY LOCATION

29 German clinics are involved

BIOBANKING

Respiratory material, blood and urine are collected at the time of patient recruitment

STUDY METHOD

Longitudinal multi-central observational study

PARTNER

University of Marburg, HELMHOLTZ centre Munich, CAPNETZ STIFTUNG, DZL, Charité Berlin

ROLE OF CAPNETZ: ASSOCIATED RESEARCH PARTNER

COYCONET is associated partner of the German centre for lung research DZL. The COSYCONET headquarters are located at the University of Marburg. Since 2019 a collaboration with CAPNETZ STIFTUNG was established for sharing of the online study portal, data management tasks, study documentation and quality assurance.