Frits Franssen
@fritsfranssen.bsky.social
Head of department of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, the Netherlands / Fellow of ERS
COPD is a complex, heterogeneous disorder driven by environmental exposures, genetic susceptibility, immune dysregulation, and accelerated lung aging rather than solely by airflow limitation. doi.org/10.2147/COPD...
COPD exacerbations are characterized by epithelial barrier disruption, dysregulated inflammation, and impaired repair. This figure shows epithelial repair processes in both healthy conditions and COPD exacerbation. doi.org/10.1016/j.ph...
E-cigarettes delivering nicotine are likely to be carcinogenic to humans who use them causing oral cancer and lung cancer. The burden of disease cannot be quantified from data presently available. doi.org/10.1093/carc...
Viral respiratory infections are major and potentially modifiable triggers of COPD exacerbations. Thus, vaccination may be a preventive strategy for these events. This figure illustrates which patients may benefit most from vaccination. doi.org/10.1055/a-28...
Our latest study focusses on prevalence of Type 2 inflammation in COPD patients with frequent exacerbations in a real-world cohort in the Netherlands doi.org/10.1111/all.... #allergy
Lung microbiome profile in the healthy state, in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and during exacerbations of COPD (ECOPD) with associated clinical outcomes and potential applications doi.org/10.31083/BJH...
Independent of genetic background, a large longitudinal cohort study shows a significant association between in utero smoke exposure and the risk of developing COPD later in life doi.org/10.1093/ntr/...
The vicious vortex of bronchiectasis with the treatments evaluated in the 2025 ERS bronchiectasis guideline publications.ersnet.org/content/erj/...
Remote photoplethysmography (PPG) app-based prolonged opportunistic arrhythmia screening pathway for COPD doi.org/10.1183/2312...
Natural disasters affecting respiratory health and the underlying mechanisms #ERS doi.org/10.1183/1399...
Modeled evolution of the global economic and health burden of COPD from 2025 to 2050, considering trends in risk factors and an expanding population. Actions needed to reduce risk factors and improve treatments. #CHEST doi.org/10.1016/j.ch...
Pathophysiological mechanisms disrupting lung development. Early-life exposures, including genetic and epigenetic alterations, infections, oxidative stress, and inflammation, contribute to impaired lung development. doi.org/10.1146/annu... #worldlungday
Having had just 1 moderate exacerbation in the year prior to COPD diagnosis significantly increases the risk of future events, suggesting that placing patients with 0 or 1 moderate event in the same low risk of future exacerbation groups (A & B) in GOLD is not justified doi.org/10.1183/1399...
Multiple direct and indirect pathways increase risk of lung disease exacerbations during heat waves. Community preparedness and advocacy are needed, particularly to address greater adverse effects on vulnerable populations. doi.org/10.1164/rccm... @atsblueeditor.bsky.social
New US study shows that COPD confers a 1.9-fold higher risk of intensive care unit admission or in-hospital mortality in adults hospitalized with RSV doi.org/10.1093/ofid... #virus #RSV
COPD patient survey shows that >20% of patients are not on maintenance therapy; leading reasons include that their COPD was not severe enough, and that their doctors had not recommended it. Action is needed for more effective and timely disease management. #COPDfoundation doi.org/10.15326/jco...
Airway mucus plugs were previously associated with increased risk of exacerbations and mortality in COPD. Now, persistent and newly formed mucus plugs are associated with a faster decrease in lung function (FEV1) in this disease. @nejm.org www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1...
Newly proposed diagnostic schema for COPD using major and minor criteria classifies individuals as having this disease beyond airflow limitation and identifies individuals at increased risk for poor outcomes. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.7358 @jama.com
Pulmonary rehabilitation is an evidence-based, personalized, comprehensive intervention that improves physical and psychological function and reduces healthcare consumption in people with chronic respiratory conditions #PRweek2025 #COPD
Almost 31% of persons hospitalized with severe RSV infection has underlying COPD and in-hospital mortality in this group may be as high as 18%. Preventive vaccins are available but need to be implemented. www.springernature.com/gp/open-rese...
Targeting T2 inflammation or epithelial-derived alarmins represents a step forward in precision medicine for the treatment of a subset of COPD... www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Theoretical framework illustrating the potential impact of body composition on COPD exacerbation risk; from our latest editorial in Respirology #felipemachado doi.org/10.1111/resp...
Hard to comprehend and even harder to accept: a 46.3%, or 35 year, loss of life expectancy in the Gaza Strip during the period October, 2023, to September, 2024. Touched by this @thelancet.bsky.social paper. doi.org/10.1016/S014...
New meta-analysis shows a significant 20% reduction in all-cause mortality with ICS-containing therapies versus non-ICS containing inhaler therapies in COPD. Future research should identify patient subgroups most likely to benefit while minimizing adverse effects. doi.org/10.1080/1747...
