Acute Exacerbation and Respiratory InfectionS in COPD (AERIS): protocol for a prospective, observational cohort study

Bourne, Simon; Cohet, Catherine; Kim, Viktoriya; Barton, Anna; Tuck, Andy; Aris, Emmanuel; Mesia-Vela, Sonia; Devaster, Jeanne-Marie; Ballou, W Ripley; Clarke, Stuart; Wilkinson, Tom

The AERIS study has been initiated to assess the role of infectious pathogens in AECOPD in a well-characterised cohort of patients. The study aims at exploring the dynamics of airway infection and its possible contribution to AECOPD, as well as the potential role of chronic colonization in stable disease. The overall objective of the study will aim at refining the case definition of AECOPD to reflect the possible microbiological aetiology of exacerbations. This is of note, since there is currently no commonly agreed definition of AECOPD and no current case definition includes a microbiological endpoint. The impact of AECOPD on health-related quality-of-life and healthcare use will be assessed in order to provide a complete picture of disease burden. The interaction between airway infection and systemic manifestations of COPD and nutritional status will also be assessed. Biological specimens collected during the study may also be used for further disease-related testing, including COPD, to explore cell-mediated immune response to specific bacterial antigens, and to develop non-invasive bacterial diagnostic methods.