Total airway count (TAC) as visible in computed tomography (CT) scans is closely associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) severity that could potentially be used to predict pulmonary decline in COPD patients, finds a recent study. The study conducted by Pixin Ran, of the First Affiliated Hospital of China’s Guangzhou Medical University, and colleagues found that TAC is independently associated with annual decline in pre-bronchodilator FEV1 (P=.023), post-bronchodilator FEV1 (P=.018), and post-bronchodilator FEV1 /FVC (P<.001).  The authors of the study, published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease,  said that they had analysed 176 people in this study, of whom 139 eventually completed at least 2 spirometry measurements within 7 years of baseline. 

“These data/ measurements suggest that CT-visible TAC is a meaningful measure of COPD severity and it is likely to be an evaluation indicator of the degree of COPD airway remodeling, and a predictor for accelerated decline in pulmonary function,” the researchers said in the report. 

They also pointed out that advanced imaging software can be used to analyse the trachea tree and examine smaller airways with an airway diameter of just 1 mm using CT systems, making the measurements easier.