Associations of pre-COPD indicators with lung function decline and their longitudinal transitions

BACKGROUND: Pre-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) indicators are associated with COPD development, but their associations with lung function decline in persons without COPD and their longitudinal transitions remain uncertain. METHODS: /FVC. RESULTS: /FVC among smokers. Incident COPD developed from sSAD in almost half of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: <80% predicted, sSAD, and low PEF are associated with excessive lung function decline among smokers, while consistent chronic bronchitis and sSAD are associated with excessive lung function decline among non-smokers. Initial sSAD accounts for a larger proportion of incident COPD than initial chronic bronchitis, PRISm, and low PEF.