The Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease

Conditions

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, COPD

Keywords

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, Cohort study, prospective longitudinal study, tissue bank

Brief summary

Abstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in Canada. COPD is not just a disease of men, nor is it solely a disease in old age. Women have been underrepresented and early disease has not been studied. Underdiagnosis of COPD remains a significant problem, and it may indicate an unmet healthcare need. This can potentially results not only in a patient been misinformed, but can lead to incorrect management. Epidemiological research is needed to develop a framework to combat this major health problem, by better characterization of the population of men and women at risk and patients with early disease, by better understanding which factors modifiable through health interventions are related to health perception (health-related quality of life) and disease evolution. This will be possible through a nationwide study, the Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung disease (CanCOLD), a prospective longitudinal study. The CanCOLD study is built on the current ongoing prevalence nationwide study, the Canadian Obstructive Lung disease COLD study. The CanCOLD will be the first study to assess prevalence of disease across Canada and its consequence in men and women, and to evaluate a conceptual model of disease severity based on patient's health perception (health-related quality of life). Ultimately, this project will extend to a longitudinal follow up (3 years or beyond) and will allow to have a better understanding of the lifestyle risk factors, not only smoking but also diet, physical activity, and co morbid conditions. This will be a great asset to shift from management of a single risk factor (tobacco control) to total COPD risk management. The results of the study will greatly help to assist decision makers in developing policies to improve the diagnosis, the management of COPD and to optimize health care services use.

Daniel Genkin, Mustansir Verdawala, Sophie É. Collins, WAN C. TAN, Pei Z. Li et al. (9 authors)

Radiology Cardiothoracic Imaging2026-03-05

10.1148/ryct.250060

Cannabis smoking is associated with persistent epigenome-wide disruptions despite smoking cessation.

Cordero AIH, Li X, Yang CX, Ambalavanan A, MacIsaac JL, Kobor MS, Doiron D, Tan W, Bourbeau J, Sin DD, Duan Q, Leung JM, CanCOLD Collaborative Research Group.

2025-04-09

10.1186/s12890-025-03634-9

Identifying Abnormal Exertional Breathlessness in COPD: Comparing Modified Medical Research Council and COPD Assessment Test With Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing.

Ekström M, Lewthwaite H, Li PZ, Bourbeau J, Tan WC, Jensen D, CanCOLD Collaborative Research Group.

2024-10-284 citations

10.1016/j.chest.2024.10.027

CT Chest Imaging Using Normalized Join-Count: Predicting Emphysema Progression in the CanCOLD Study.

Virdee S, Tan WC, Hogg JC, Bourbeau J, Hague CJ, Kirby M, CanCOLD Collaborative Research Group.

2024-07-011 citations

10.1148/radiol.233265

Physiological Characterization of Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry in the CanCOLD Study: Implications for Exertional Dyspnea and Exercise Intolerance

Devin B. Phillips, Matthew D. James, Sandra G. Vincent, Amany F. Elbehairy, J. Alberto Neder et al. (11 authors)

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine2024-01-0319 citations

10.1164/rccm.202307-1184oc

CT airway remodelling and chronic cough

Hazim Abozid, Miranda Kirby, Neha Nasir, Sylvia Hartl, Robab Breyer‐Kohansal et al. (10 authors)

BMJ Open Respiratory Research2023-05-015 citations

10.1136/bmjresp-2022-001462

Quantitative CT Lung Imaging and Machine Learning Improves Prediction of Emergency Room Visits and Hospitalizations in COPD.

Moslemi A, Makimoto K, Tan WC, Bourbeau J, Hogg JC, Coxson HO, Kirby M, Canadian Cohort of Obstructive Lung Disease.

2022-06-0810 citations

10.1016/j.acra.2022.05.009

Normative Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Responses at the Ventilatory Threshold in Canadian Adults 40 to 80 Years of Age.

Lewthwaite H, Elsewify O, Niro F, Bourbeau J, Guenette JA, Maltais F, Marciniuk DD, O'Donnell DE, Smith BM, Stickland MK, Tan WC, Jensen D, CanCOLD Collaborative Research Group, Canadian Respiratory Research Network.

2020-11-189 citations

10.1016/j.chest.2020.11.009

The COPD Assessment Test: Can It Discriminate Across COPD Subpopulations?

Gupta N, Pinto L, Benedetti A, Li PZ, Tan WC, Aaron SD, Chapman KR, FitzGerald JM, Hernandez P, Marciniuk DD, Maltais F, O'Donnell DE, Sin D, Walker BL, Bourbeau J, Canadian Respiratory Research Network and the CanCOLD Collaborative Research Group.

2016-06-2712 citations

10.1016/j.chest.2016.06.016

Characteristics of COPD in never-smokers and ever-smokers in the general population: results from the CanCOLD study

Wan C. Tan, Don D. Sin, Jean Bourbeau, Paul Hernandez, Kenneth R. Chapman et al. (18 authors)

Thorax2015-06-05245 citations

10.1136/thoraxjnl-2015-206938

Interventions

None listed

Study design

Observational model

COHORT

Time perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

40 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* All the subjects have taken part in the COLD study, a true population based prevalence study. Subjects must have an inclusion criteria of 40 years and older to participate in the COLD study.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
What risk factors other than smoking determine the development and progression of COPD.	One visit a year every 18 months

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
What are the combinations of the disease and patient attributes that differentiate individuals (men/women) with COPD as they relate to relevant outcomes (symptoms, exacerbations, disease progression or death)	One visit a year 18 months
Is early detection of COPD with spirometry meaningful according to sex and ageing.	One visit a year 18 months

Countries

Canada

Outcome results