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Open research questions in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research

300 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 1,034 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • The study was limited by examining physical activity as a single intensity dimension without distinguishing specific PA types in previous studies, - The cross-sectional design of the study limits the ability to establish causality, - The study relied on self-reported physical activity data

    Association between intensity and type of physical activity and lung function in patients with COPD: a population-based study · 2026 · DOI

  • Further research is needed to investigate the causal relationship between physical activity and lung function in COPD patients, - Studies should examine the effects of different types and intensities of physical activity on lung function in COPD patients, - Research should focus on developing effective interventions to increase physical activity in COPD patients

    Association between intensity and type of physical activity and lung function in patients with COPD: a population-based study · 2026 · DOI

  • Recruiting and retaining participants with COPD for longitudinal studies can be challenging. Ensuring accurate and reliable measurement of physical activity using triaxial accelerometry can be difficult. Interpreting the results of small, paired samples can be challenging due to limited statistical power.

    Changes in Physical Activity and Psychological Status in Patients with COPD Between Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Assessments: A Pilot Observational Longitudinal Cohort Study · 2026 · DOI

  • The changes in physical activity patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with COPD are not well understood. There is a need to assess the impact of the pandemic on physical activity and psychological status in patients with COPD.

    Changes in Physical Activity and Psychological Status in Patients with COPD Between Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Assessments: A Pilot Observational Longitudinal Cohort Study · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies physical limitations and exercise-induced fatigue as barriers to adherence. Time constraints and caregiving responsibilities are also identified as challenges to consistent engagement in the PR program. The study acknowledges the complexity of managing COPD in an aging population with multimorbidity and the need for personalized strategies.

    Understanding facilitators and barriers to adherence in home-based pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients using the Health Belief Model: a qualitative study · 2025 · DOI

  • Small sample size, - Limited to patients who already participated in home-based PR for at least three months, - Language or hearing impairments that would hinder interview participation were excluded

    Understanding facilitators and barriers to adherence in home-based pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients using the Health Belief Model: a qualitative study · 2025 · DOI

  • Further studies are needed to explore the impact of DII and CDAI on all-cause mortality in COPD patients. Research on the effects of dietary patterns on COPD progression and mortality is needed. Studies on the relationship between dietary inflammation and antioxidant indices and COPD are required.

    Associations of dietary inflammation index and composite dietary antioxidant index with all-cause mortality in COPD patients · 2025 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in the understanding of the association between PRISm and adverse outcomes of depression and anxiety. Previous studies have focused on the association between COPD and depression and anxiety, but not PRISm.

    The association between preserved ratio impaired spirometry and adverse outcomes of depression and anxiety: evidence from the UK Biobank · 2024 · DOI

  • In runners, repeated exposure to mechanical loading favours musculoskeletal symptoms, yet the effects of diaphragmatic myofascial release on pain, chest wall mobility and performance remain poorly documented.

    Efeitos da liberação miofascial do diafragma sobre a dor musculoesquelética, a mobilidade torácica e o desempenho funcional em corredores: estudo quase-experimental · 2026 · DOI

  • However, little is known about how these tools are delivered in routine practice or how delivery influences patient engagement across different clinical settings.

    Understanding Delivery and Engagement With a Digital Self-Management Intervention for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Across Two Clinical Settings: Qualitative Study · 2026 · DOI

  • PURPOSE: Despite high rates of lung disease and lung cancer among women, few studies have focused on adverse lung health risk factors among rural Appalachian women.

    Identifying risk factors for adverse lung health outcomes among rural Appalachian women · 2025 · DOI

  • However, the impact of a comprehensive healthy lifestyle as a potential mediator between SES and COPD risk remains understudied.

    Associations of socioeconomic status and health lifestyles with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: two nationwide population-based studies · 2025 · DOI

  • Background Few studies have investigated the effects of both dietary inflammatory index (DII) and composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI) on mortality in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

    Associations of dietary inflammation index and composite dietary antioxidant index with all-cause mortality in COPD patients · 2025 · DOI

  • Nevertheless, the investigation into the association between LAP and COPD risk is still insufficient, particularly in population-based research.

    Association between lipid accumulation product and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cross-sectional study based on U.S. adults · 2025 · DOI

  • Skeletal muscle mass loss, a systemic manifestation of COPD, has garnered increasing attention, but its association with all-cause mortality in AECOPD remains unclear.

    The association between skeletal muscle mass and all-cause mortality in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2025 · DOI

  • However, the relationship between CVD and the severity of COPD remains inadequately understood.

    The association between cardiovascular diseases and their subcategories with the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a large cross-sectional study based on a Chinese hospital population cohort · 2025 · DOI

  • 1% exposed specific gaps in understanding, emphasizing deficiencies in 12 questions answered by less than 50%.

    Assessment of ABCDE approach knowledge among residents and interns in multiple Egyptian hospitals, a cross-sectional study · 2025 · DOI

  • While its physical manifestations such as dyspnea, chronic cough, and sputum production are well known, its psychological impact, particularly the high prevalence of depression among patients, remains under-recognized.

    Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Depression—The Vicious Mental Cycle · 2025 · DOI

  • However, a comprehensive assessment of the burden of COPD in older adults is lacking.

    Burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults aged 70 years and older, 1990–2021: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 · 2025 · DOI

  • This demonstrates the need for further research on the impact of linguistic and cultural characteristics on adherence to treatment interventions for COPD.

    Barriers and facilitators of adherence to treatment interventions for COPD amongst individuals from minority ethnic communities: Meta-ethnography · 2025 · DOI

  • METHODS: Utilizing the GBD 2021 database, we performed in-depth analyses and preliminary projections of global, regional, and national burden trends for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and interstitial lung disease & pulmonary sarcoidosis (ILD&PS) through multi-model approaches including but not limited to Age-Period-Cohort (APC) models, Joinpoint regression, and Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort (BAPC) modeling.

    Global burden of major chronic respiratory diseases among older adults aged 55 and above from 1990 to 2021: Changes, challenges, and predictions amid the pandemic · 2025 · DOI

  • However, the effects of modulating these regulatory axes in the context of smoking remain poorly studied.

    Impact of the modulation of PD-1/ligands axis on the pulmonary response to cigarette smoke 3021 · 2025 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: Sedentary behavior may influence the respiratory health, but the joint effects of sedentary behavior and physical activity on pulmonary function remains poorly elucidated.

    Joint association of sedentary behavior and physical activity with pulmonary function · 2024 · DOI

  • The relationship between middle-aged men's I/E ratios and their physical fitness warrants further investigation.

    Respiratory patterns and physical fitness in healthy adults: a cross-sectional study · 2024 · DOI

  • However, the links between respiration patterns during spontaneous breathing and physical fitness remain unknown.

    Respiratory patterns and physical fitness in healthy adults: a cross-sectional study · 2024 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research

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300 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 1,034 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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