CIHR-ICRH/CTS Distinguished Lecture in Respiratory Sciences: The Changing Face of COPD: From Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) to Real World Evidence (RWE)

Jean Bourbeau, MD, MSc, FRCPC, FCAHS
McGill University; Montreal, QC

Session Description

The past two decades have seen an explosion of studies into all aspects of patient care with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pharmacotherapy studies have had the favor compared to non-pharmacotherapy interventions. Over the same period, many questions specific to non-pharmacological intervention have been examined by major landmark RCTs, and real-world evidence studies showing successful integration in clinical practice.

The last decade has also seen increased enthusiasm for observational studies, the prospective study specific to COPD, the Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease (CanCOLD) with rigorously defined assessment of a variety of clinical, physiological, radiological and biological outcomes. The main clinical gains have come from a better understanding of new risk factors and clinical phenotypes with specific signatures that could help understand the heterogeneity of COPD, prognostic and co-morbidities.

Many of these findings and emerging discoveries will be reviewed and how they may have influence and potentially change clinical practice.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:

• Review the great deal achieved of the non-pharmacotherapy interventions in the management of COPD, landmark trials, and real-world evidence studies.
• Describe from a decade of findings and emerging discoveries in CanCOLD, new risk factors and clinical phenotypes that explain the heterogeneity of COPD, prognostic and co-morbidities.

CanMEDS Roles: Collaborator, Communicator, Health Advocate, Leader, Medical Expert, Professional, Scholar