Nearly 16 million Americans, and more than 250 million people around the world, live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and millions more remain undiagnosed. The COPD Foundation has been monitoring the global pandemic of a disease caused by the recently identified coronavirus family member SARS-CoV-2 named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). On April 17^th, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 2,078,605 confirmed cases and 139,515 deaths globally.¹ The COVID-19 pandemic has put patients with COPD and other comorbidities at a high risk for poor outcomes as noted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).² Although there is limited published data on COVID-19 in COPD individuals (only 15 out of > 4815 PubMed references on April 17^th), a recent article in the European Respiratory Journal evaluated 1590 laboratory-confirmed hospitalized cases in China and highlighted a low incidence in COPD individuals (24 cases) and in overall comorbidities (25.1%).³ However, COPD had a significant impact on risk for poor outcome (composite endpoint of admission to an intensive care unit, invasive ventilation, or death) reflected by a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.681 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.424–5.0480] after adjusting for age and smoking status. COPD comorbidity as a risk factor was second only to malignancy (HR 3.50, 95% CI 1.60–7.64).

Although an initial publication from China suggested a statistically significant risk of poor outcome in active smokers,⁴ a recent meta-analysis of several studies indicated⁵ it was only a strong trend. However, another systematic review published on April 15th, confirmed the association of smoking with a risk for poor outcome in COVID-19.⁶ Therefore, more epidemiological data on COPD, smoking and vaping is needed to fully understand the impact of nicotine exposure and development of COPD on COVID-19 outcomes. As nicotine has previously been associated with upregulation of ACE2,⁷ the receptor for SARS-CoV-2,⁸ research suggests the importance of emphasizing smoking and vaping cessation.

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are often prescribed to COPD patients at risk for exacerbations and a short course (5-10 days) of systemic steroids is commonly prescribed as standard of care for selected COPD exacerbations (notably, there is no evidence suggesting a role for chronic systemic steroid use in COPD). Current guidelines from the WHO¹ and the CDC² do not cover COPD specifically. On March 10th a working group of the Chinese Thoracic Society issued guidance on the treatment of COPD patients.⁹ On March 23rd, the Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) issued guidance on keeping patients on their regular maintenance therapy¹⁰ and this was supported by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidance on COVID-19 which was issued on March 30^th.¹¹ However, the debate on treating COVID-19 with systemic steroids (regardless of underlying disease) continues. A small study in China demonstrated no benefit but also no harm¹² in contrast to guidance by the CDC¹³ to avoid the use of systemic steroids when treating COVID-19 which is based on previous experience with SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome.¹⁴ Another post-hoc study suggested a survival benefit in treating patients with COVID-19 and advanced respiratory distress syndrome.¹⁵ This adds to the confusion among physicians treating individuals with COVID-19, especially in the background of a respiratory comorbidity. Although 177 ongoing and planned global clinical trials are listed in ClinicalTrials.gov, none is specific for COPD.

Based on a recent report (in press) from the COPD Group of the Chinese Thoracic Society and the COPD Working Committee of the Chinese Association of Chest Physicians,⁹ differential diagnosis of COVID-19 is challenging, due to the ongoing symptomatology of COPD, and often leads to delayed diagnosis as patients present with fever, fatigue and other systemic symptoms, and respiratory symptoms are relatively light. After 6 to 7 days, rapid deterioration of lung function may occur. Once infected with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, lung function in COPD patients can deteriorate rapidly leading to respiratory failure. In a small number of patients with COVID-19 pneumonitis (especially in the elderly) COVID-19 may initially present with delirium. The finding of delayed diagnosis of COPD patients infected with COVID-19 due to misdiagnosis as a COPD exacerbation was confirmed in a recent podcast from a physician on the frontlines interviewed by Steven Q. Simpson, MD, FCCP, American College of Chest Physicians President-Elect.¹⁶ Moreover, in an recently completed COPD Foundation patient and caregiver survey, we observed that out of 177 COPD individuals who reported exacerbations in 2020, 16 were suspected for COVID-19 but only 5 were tested (unpublished data, March/April 2020). Considering the high incidence of COVID-19, it seems imperative to test COPD patients presenting with symptoms of an exacerbation to prevent further dissemination.

The COPD Foundation focuses on empowering and engaging the community to show that there is hope and that individuals with COPD and their families can take positive steps to lead meaningful and productive lives with COPD during this challenging global crisis. As the COVID-19 pandemic has put patients with COPD and other comorbidities at a high risk for poor outcomes, the COPD Foundation is keeping our community informed on emerging developments through a dedicated website which is updated regularly.¹⁷ Members of our Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee and other expert partners help ensure that accurate information is shared with our COPD community through blogs, webinars and Q&A posted on our website and on social media.

Access to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a key issue for patients with COPD. On March 26^th the COPD Foundation, in collaboration with the ATS and the American Lung Association,¹⁸ published a guidance on what to do when PR is unavailable. In addition, we provided links to our exercise website¹⁹ and the free COPD Pocket Consultant Guide App which helps patients exercise at home.²⁰ However, this crisis highlights a need for improved, remotely supervised physical therapy programs that utilize telehealth technology to advise patients on appropriate at home exercise that is tailored to their specific needs.

Our global online community, COPD360social includes over 47,000 members from 151 countries and is currently serving a critically important role in communicating with the COPD community about COVID-19 by addressing the specific needs and risks that the individual with COPD may face.²¹ On March 29^th we launched the first of a series of global surveys²² on COVID-19 which includes analysis of free text responses (funded by our industry partners) to ensure that the COPD Foundation programs will address all of the specific needs of the community. Combined with surveys to clinicians addressing questions on the use of ICSs, nebulizers and airway clearance devices for patients with COPD and experiencing COVID-19 infection, we aim to continue to support our community through this global crisis.