Only a minority of smokers develops chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but for those who do, COPD makes it harder to breath. COPD includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and airways diseases. University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is involved in a research study to find inherited factors that make some smokers more likely to develop COPD. Kim Baker, MD, pulmonary specialist at UI Hospitals and Clinics, talks about the study:

What is the study called?

It's called the COPD Gene study or the COPD genetic epidemiology study.

Why is it important to understand the genetics of COPD?

COPD is a complicated disease. Not all smokers develop COPD, and among those who do develop COPD, there's quite a bit of variability from one person to another. So this suggests to us that there are probably a lot of factors that contribute to its development. Probably among those factors are some genetic issues or some inherited factors that contribute. So by trying to gain some additional insight into the genetics and some of these inherited factors, we hope to gain a better understanding of the disease itself. And by gaining a better understanding of the disease, hopefully in the future that might then translate into better therapeutic options for patients who have COPD.

Who are you looking for to participate in the study?

We're looking for former smokers and current smokers, ages 45-80, who are non-Hispanic, white, or African-American to participate.

What will participants be asked to do as part of the study?

Patients (subjects) will have a one-time visit to the University, as well as a phone call follow-up twice a year for 10 years. During their visit to the University, they will go through a consenting process, and if they qualify and agree to continue, then they will have some questionnaires to fill out while they're here; they'll have a blood draw; and then they'll have a CAT scan of their chest performed, which is a special kind of X-ray; and then they'll have a 6-minute walk test, and that's about it. The visit itself will probably last a couple of hours.

How long will the overall study last?

The overall study will last 10 years; so the one-time visit and then each year they'll have two follow-up phone calls during that 10 year period.

If someone wanted to learn more about the study, or perhaps volunteer for the study, whom should they contact?

Kim Springer is our research coordinator here at the University for the study and her number is 1-800-777-8442 and she'd be happy to provide some additional information.

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Kim Baker, MD