Netherlands

Background Pharmacotherapy is key in asthma control, including preventing lung function decline, in primary care. However, patients’ physical functioning (e.g., physical capacity, PC (=can do) and physical activity, PA (=do do)) correlates poorly with lung function. Therefore, a better insight in the physical function of patients with asthma is needed, using the “can do, do do” concept. 
Objective To explore the “can do, do do” concept in adult asthma patients at referral for the first time to an outpatient consultation of a pulmonologist. 
Methods PC was measured using the six-minute walk test (6MWT). PA by using an accelerometer. Patients were classified into quadrants: low PC (6MWD &lt;70% predicted), low PA (&lt;7000 steps/day, &quot;can&#39;t do, don&#39;t do&quot;); preserved PC, low PA (&quot;can do, don&#39;t do”); low PC, preserved PA (&quot;can&#39;t do, do do&quot;); or preserved PC, preserved PA (&quot;can do, do do&quot;).
Results 479 asthma patients had a median (IQR) 6MWD of 74 (66–82) % predicted, and walked 6829 (4593–9075) steps/day. Only 29% was classified as &quot;can do, do do&quot;, while 30% was classified as “can’t do, don’t do”. The Asthma Control Questionnaire and the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire were worst in the “can’t do” groups. 
Conclusion Low PC and/or PA was found in a majority of asthma patients at the index referral to a pulmonologist. An impaired PC is accompanied by a significantly reduced asthma control and disease-specific quality of life. This justifies further studies on safety and efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions, such as physiotherapy.

Dutch Lung Congress

&quot;Can do&quot; versus &quot;do do&quot; in patients with asthma at first referral to a pulmonologist

physical capacity

asthma

physical activity

[![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/261902fdf187a88bfa74da226ff77186.png)](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gUViQJJHCSgM38OhwpDoTdN89evCsZ-7/view?usp=sharing)
[![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/1605292c232e6f185c7f87ee38e8502a.png)](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kPkznVX_6cx-n846z_pUtyVDZql9KImc/view?usp=sharing)


### **Welcome Message**

Welcome to the inaugural **Dutch Lung Congress.**  We have all missed our opportunities to network and interact with our colleagues in the last twelve months or more.  While our desire was to meet face to face once again, when it became evident that this would not be possible until much later in 2021 (or even into 2022) the hard working committee organizing the Dutch Lung Congress found, what we hope will be, an excellent alternative to facilitate our annual meeting.

The Dutch Lung Congress aims to bring together everyone interested in research related to pulmonary diseases in the Netherlands.  We hope this event will provide opportunities for multidisciplinary interactions to enhance our approaches for addressing these challenging diseases.  Each session will include input from patients, clinical and basic and/or translational scientists discussing the latest information around the central themes chosen by the organizing committee.  One advantage of holding our congress as a virtual event this year is that we will have the opportunity to hear from world leading experts from all over the globe.  We hope you enjoy the programme the organizing committee have put together and will engage in dynamic discussions with all the speakers.

One highlight of our congress will be the Young Investigator Session.  Remember to join us for this exciting session when we will hear from the presenters who submitted the top scoring abstracts.  This promises to be a session full of exciting science that will display the strengths that constitute the future talent in our field.

When we are not listening to these great presentations we can all meet in Gathertown.  Within this interactive platform you will be able to meet colleagues and friends for networking. Enjoy a private chat over a virtual coffee, visit the booths of our sponsors and other parties, chat with the Young Investigator Board members or take some timeout in the relaxation spaces.  While in Gathertown take the opportunity to visit all the diverse posters on display. Chat live with the presenters or leave them a question on the discussion board for them to engage with you.  Make sure you check for any messages each time you enter Gathertown to make the most of your networking opportunities.

We look forward to seeing you during the DLC and the great scientific (and other) discussions we are anticipating during our 2021 meeting.

On behalf of the DLC organizing Committee
<br>**Janette Burgess
<br>Chair, DLC Organizing Committee**
![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/f461fb275d9667fb2a76a30813388e90.png)



### Special Session: Publieksmiddag
![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/77e768dd500e6205175e5cafba59abdc.png)






![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/f461fb275d9667fb2a76a30813388e90.png)
**More about the committee team:**:
[Barbro N. Melgert, PhD] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q_IIH3JvTivumCUzzsZGX7BgD41HxQmk/view?usp=sharing)
// [Bas Holverda, PhD] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QKXHmTTQjgs4OZVuM8doXU055S-fu_uU/view?usp=sharing)
// [Frits Franssen, PhD] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7HRUJaqGuRFzkPN3SVgkbBfqFkDkWq2/view?usp=sharing)
// [Janette Burgess, PhD] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VHFlrEN6uCQGeeW3Lj4I8aTw7HsB0GFr/view?usp=sharing)
// [Michel van den Heuvel, PhD] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JeOEP8MHxiK_4lONr8UM2HaxdxpkAmA2/view?usp=sharing)
// [Patrick Bhairosing] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xI8ORq-g1bbVcrlRDviZ9NhAwanc4dFl/view?usp=sharing)
// [Gimano Amatngalim, PhD] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fyVDDKARLNjRk_JZk8_GyhGMjmp6DWHp/view?usp=sharing)
// [Peter Kunst, PhD] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QhtB4nQezpAjbfUAcBnINc-Bm3Shy2Lf/view?usp=sharing)
// [Dr. Michel van den Heuvel, Prof., MD, PhD] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JBdNEBXZCEikEZhJ6MoD5DhQfXMz3bP6/view?usp=sharing)
![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/f461fb275d9667fb2a76a30813388e90.png)

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Background Pharmacotherapy is key in asthma control, including preventing lung function decline, in primary care. However, patients’ physical functioning (e.g., physical capacity, PC (=can do) and physical activity, PA (=do do)) correlates poorly with lung function. Therefore, a better insight in the physical function of patients with asthma is needed, using the “can do, do do” concept. 
Objective To explore the “can do, do do” concept in adult asthma patients at referral for the first time to an outpatient consultation of a pulmonologist. 
Methods PC was measured using the six-minute walk test (6MWT). PA by using an accelerometer. Patients were classified into quadrants: low PC (6MWD <70% predicted), low PA (<7000 steps/day, "can't do, don't do"); preserved PC, low PA ("can do, don't do”); low PC, preserved PA ("can't do, do do"); or preserved PC, preserved PA ("can do, do do").
Results 479 asthma patients had a median (IQR) 6MWD of 74 (66–82) % predicted, and walked 6829 (4593–9075) steps/day. Only 29% was classified as "can do, do do", while 30% was classified as “can’t do, don’t do”. The Asthma Control Questionnaire and the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire were worst in the “can’t do” groups. 
Conclusion Low PC and/or PA was found in a majority of asthma patients at the index referral to a pulmonologist. An impaired PC is accompanied by a significantly reduced asthma control and disease-specific quality of life. This justifies further studies on safety and efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions, such as physiotherapy.

"Can do" versus "do do" in patients with asthma at first referral to a pulmonologist

poster

Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease that can affect any organ. Diagnosis can be challenging and often requires tissue sampling; a non-invasive diagnostic method is lacking. Electronic nose (eNose) analysis is an emerging method for profiling exhaled volatile organic compounds. We aimed to evaluate whether eNose data could distinguish between sarcoidosis, other interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) and healthy controls, and between different phenotypes or clinical characteristics of sarcoidosis patients.
Methods: In this cross-sectional single centre study, exhaled breath of outpatients with sarcoidosis was analysed using an eNose (SpiroNose). Clinical characteristics were collected from medical files. eNose sensor data were analysed with partial least square discriminant and ROC analysis. Regression analysis was conducted to correlate sIL-2R values with the main principal component.
Results: 569 patients were included (252 with sarcoidosis, 317 with ILD) and 48 healthy controls. The mean age of sarcoidosis patients was 53.1±11.4 years, 53.2% was male, 61% never smoked, and 88.9% had pulmonary involvement. eNose data could distinguish sarcoidosis patients from healthy controls (AUC 1.00; Figure 1) and ILD patients (AUC 0.89). There were no differences in eNose data between sarcoidosis patients with or without fibrosis (AUC 0.60), immunosuppressive treatment (AUC 0.59), or pulmonary involvement (AUC 0.64). eNose data did differentiate the 1st and 4th sIL-2R quartiles (AUC 0.83; Figure 2). A moderate correlation of eNose data with individual sIL-2R values (r=0.32, p<0.05) was found.
Conclusion: Exhaled breath analysis using eNose technology may be a novel diagnostic tool for sarcoidosis. No differences were found between different phenotypes of sarcoidosis.

Use of electronic nose technology in sarcoidosis

Effect of intravenous alpha-1-antitrypsin augmentation therapy on a proteinase-3-generated AαVal541 in deficient patients

Iris G. M. Schouten, Richard A. Mumford, Abraham C. van der Linden, Dirk Jan A. R. Moes, Pieter S. Hiemstra, Jan Stolk

Background. In alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), neutrophil serine proteases such as proteinase 3 (PR3) and elastase are insufficiently inhibited. A previous study in AATD patients showed a higher plasma level of the specific PR3-generated fibrinogen-derived footprint peptide AαVal541, compared to healthy controls (Newby et al, ERJ Open Res. 2019).
Aim and objectives. To analyse the course of AαVal541 in plasma over 4 weeks after a single iv dose of 240 mg/kg AAT in patients with genotype Z/Rare or Rare/Rare. 
Methods We developed a competitive immunoassay to measure AαVal541 in plasma. We assessed AaVal541 levels in healthy controls (n=20) and in patients before/after AAT augmentation (n=10).
Results. The average AαVal541 plasma level before treatment was 535.4 nM (range 46.9 - 4017.8 nM), and in all patients the level decreased within 1 day after receiving iv AAT. 
In the 5 patients who received AAT for the first time, the AαVal541 decreased to 42.0 nM (range 5.1 - 141.1 nM), 89.7% (SD 6.4%) of the baseline AαVal541 value. In the patients (n=5) who already received multiple infusions before, the AαVal541 decreased to 28.1 nM (range 21.9 - 38.0 nM), 68% (SD 13.8%) of baseline. In 9 of 10 patients, AαVal541 levels were reduced to the average level of healthy controls (27.9 nM ± 17.9 SD). At 7-14 days after treatment, AαVal541 levels started to increase again in all patients, reaching on average a level of 202.0 nM (range 15.3 - 1237.0 nM) at about 4 weeks after the AAT dose.
Conclusion. Fibrinopeptide AαVal541 may serve as a biochemical footprint to assess efficacy of in vivo inhibition of proteinase 3 activity in patients receiving intravenous AAT augmentation therapy. This opens opportunities for personalized tailored dosing.

Effect of intravenous alpha-1-antitrypsin augmentation therapy onproteinase-3-generated AαVal541 in deficient patients

Rationale. WNT/β-catenin signaling and particularly the WNT receptor FZD4 are downregulated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). FzM1, a negative allosteric modulator for FZD4, and FzM1.8, an allosteric agonist, can be used to assess the role of FZD4 in activating β-catenin-dependent transcription in COPD, and to investigate FZD4 as a potential therapeutic target in COPD.
Methods. We tested modulation of β-catenin-dependent transcription by FzM1 and FzM1.8 with a luciferase reporter assay (TOP/FOPflash assay) in A549 adenocarcinoma epithelial cells. Mouse organoids were obtained co-culturing EpCAM+ cells isolated from mice lungs and CCL206 mouse fibroblasts in Matrigel in a Transwell system. Organoids were treated with FzM1 and FzM1.8 every other day until day 14, when number and phenotype (alveolar, airway, bronchioalveolar) were assessed. Precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) were obtained from mice lungs filled with warm agarose and cut with a vibratome into slices that were treated with the ligands for 48 hours and 5 days. Gene expression of β-catenin target genes, proliferation and alveolar markers was assessed through qRT-PCR.
Results. TOP/FOPflash assay confirmed dose-dependent β-catenin inhibition by FzM1 and activation by FzM1.8. FzM1 caused a drastic and significant reduction in organoids number at day 14, while FzM1.8 did not have a significant effect on organoids number or phenotype. In PCLS we observed an increased expression of pro-SPC (alveolar type II) and T1α (alveolar type I) genes after treatment with FzM1.8 for 5 days, suggesting an effect on cell fate in the alveolar compartment.
Discussion. We confirmed that these compounds modulate FZD4 and β-catenin activity in in vitro and ex-vivo lung models. We show that blocking FZD4-dependent β-catenin activation impairs organoids formation, therefore FZD4 signaling may be vital to proliferation and differentiation of alveolar progenitor cells. Targeting FZD4 could be an important strategy to rescue tissue repair in COPD. Further experiments are needed to clarify the role of FZD4 activation with FzM1.8.

Two novel allosteric ligands of FZD4 regulate the WNT/β-catenin pathway in COPD

The main site of replication of the causative agent of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID 19), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is the human airway epithelium. In this study, we used well-differentiated primary human bronchial and tracheal epithelial cells (PBEC/PTEC) cultured at air-liquid interface (ALI) to study SARS-CoV-2 infection biology and pathogenesis. We validated our infection model by measuring SARS-CoV-2 replication kinetics and related antiviral and inflammatory responses. Similar replication kinetics were found in cultures from individual donors and mixed donors, which also displayed upregulation of antiviral and inflammatory cytokines. To investigate the impact of cellular composition/maturation on SARS-CoV-2 infection, we either varied the culture time or treated cultures with IL-13 or DAPT (Notch signaling inhibitor) to modulate differentiation. We found that viral replication and the percentage of infected cells increased with cell culture duration, which was in line with changes of total number of ciliated and goblet cells with prolonged cell culture time. The predominant target cells were ciliated and goblet cells in both ALI-PTEC and ALI-PBEC. However, no relation with epithelial expression of SARS-CoV-2 cell entry genes was found. Furthermore, increased numbers of ciliated cells following DAPT treatment, and goblet cells after IL-13 treatment could not fully explain the differences in infection observed. In conclusion, our results identify epithelial maturation/differentiation level as a contributing factor to airway epithelial susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2.

This study was supported in part by a COVID-19 MKMD grant from ZonMw and Proefdiervrij (grant #114025007)


Effects of cellular composition/maturation on SARS-CoV-2 infection in cultured primary human airway epithelial cells

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during infancy is associated with subsequent childhood asthma symptoms. In addition, RSV infections can cause asthma exacerbations by infecting the epithelial layer of the airways, which induces an innate and adaptive immune response. The type-I interferon antiviral response by the epithelial cells induced by RSV infection has been shown to be reduced in asthma in most - but not all - studies. However, the molecular mechanisms that cause this difference between the healthy and asthmatic bronchial epithelium in response to viral infection are not completely understood. In this study, we investigated the transcriptional response of primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBECs) from asthma patients and healthy donors to RSV infection. The PBECs obtained from bronchial brushes were cultured at air-liquid interface conditions for 3 weeks followed by infection with RSV, UV-inactivated RSV or control suspension. Three days after infection, cells were processed for bulk or single-cell RNA sequencing. Transepithelial electrical resistance measurements showed that the barrier function of PBECs from healthy donors is superior to that of PBECs from asthma patients. In the bulk transcriptomic data, a pro-inflammatory response to RSV was observed in both conditions, but was stronger for the healthy PBECs. Cell type deconvolution on the bulk RNA-sequencing data revealed an increase in proportion of ciliated cells (p=0,023) and a decrease in basal cells (p=0,047) after RSV infection in asthma, but not in healthy PBECs. To further analyze the response to RSV infection in a cell-type specific fashion, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing, which revealed the presence of a strong NF-kB response from the basal and secretory cells, which was reduced in PBECs from asthma patients. Our results highlight that the response to RSV infection is altered in the bronchial epithelial cells in asthma, with a reduced inflammatory response and a shift in cell-type composition after viral infection.

PBECs from asthma patients display a shift in cell-type composition and a reduced inflammatory response to RSV infection

Background: Recently, an mHealth intervention has been developed to support patients with COPD in exacerbation-related self-management: the Copilot app. Health care providers (HCPs) are important stakeholders as they are the ones who have to provide the app to patients, personalize the app, and review the app. The aim of this study is to evaluate the perceived feasibility of the Copilot app in the daily practice of HCPs.
Methods: A multimethods design was used to investigate how HCPs experience working with the app and perceive the feasibility of the app in their daily practice. HCPs were observed while performing tasks in the app and asked to think aloud. The System Usability Scale was used to investigate the usability of the app, and semistructured interviews were conducted to explore the feasibility of the app. The study was conducted in primary, secondary, and tertiary care settings in the Netherlands from February 2019 to September 2019.
Results: In total, 14 HCPs participated in this study—8 nurses, 5 physicians, and 1 physician assistant. The HCPs found the app acceptable to use. The expected key benefits of the app were an increased insight into patient symptoms, more structured patient conversations, and more tailored self-management support. The app especially fits within the available time and workflow of nurses. The use of the app will be influenced by the autonomy of the professional, the focus of the organization on eHealth, costs associated with the app, and compatibility with the current systems used. Most HCPs expressed that there are conditions that must be met to be able to use the app. The app can be integrated into primary, secondary, and tertiary health care settings. 
Conclusions: This early-stage feasibility study shows that the Copilot app is feasible to use in the daily practice of HCPs. The app was considered to best fit the role of the nurses. The app will be less feasible for those organizations in which many conditions need to be met to use the app. This study provides a new approach to evaluate the perceived feasibility of mHealth interventions at an early stage.


Early-Stage Feasibility of a Mobile Health Intervention (Copilot) to Enhance Exacerbation-Related Self-Management in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Multimethods Approach

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease, mostly affecting lungs and lymph nodes. While in some patients disease activity resolves spontaneously, others have a more progressive disease course and require immunosuppressive therapy. Unfortunately, efficacy of therapy varies greatly between patients due to partial understanding of pathobiology and lack of specific biomarkers. Various markers like ACE, sIL-2R, T-cell subsets and monocytes have been evaluated in sarcoidosis over the past decades. However, a prospective study addressing the predictive value with regard to treatment response is lacking.
The PREDMETH study offers a unique opportunity to study existing and new biological markers, gain insights in disease pathogenesis and provide translational results for tailored treatment in sarcoidosis. 

The PREDMETH study is a national study, initiated by the Erasmus MC and St. Antonius Hospital and designed in collaboration with the sarcoidosis patient association. In this study efficacy and side-effects of methotrexate as first-line treatment option is compared with prednisone. Data and blood samples are collected at baseline, 4, 16, 24 weeks, and 1 and 2 years. 
To discover and validate markers that predict response to therapy absolute values at baseline of markers ACE and sIL-2R, monocyte and T-cell subsets and protein content of extracellular vesicles will be compared between responders and non-responders. To improve understanding of pathogenesis of sarcoidosis and response to therapy, changes in markers before and on treatment will be studied over time. Finally, all data will be combined to build a model for tailored treatment advice and pathophysiological response in sarcoidosis. 

This unique study combines clinical and fundamental research. We expect to provide new fundamental insights in markers for therapeutic response and cellular processes in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. Most importantly, this study holds promise to produce validated biomarkers that predict response to treatment and pave the way to tailored treatment in sarcoidosis.




Study design of the PREDMETH study: evaluation of immunological biomarkers that predict treatment response in pulmonary sarcoidosis

Rationale
IL-33 and its receptor IL-1RL1 are important asthma genes. T helper-2 (TH2) cells present in asthmatic airway wall contribute to chronic inflammation and epithelial remodeling. TH2 cells express IL-1RL1 and respond to IL-33 by increased cytokine production upon stimulation. We aimed to test the extent of the IL-33-driven modification of Th2 cell activation, and whether the asthma-susceptibility alleles of IL1RL affect this response. 
Methods
CD4+ T cells isolated from PBMCs of 16 healthy donors and 16 asthma patients, stratified for IL-1RL1 high and low risk-genotypes, were differentiated into TH2 cells in vitro, and re-stimulated by CD3/CD28-crosslinking in presence or absence of 100 ng/mL rhIL-33. Gene expression was assessed by RNA-sequencing, and subsequently analyzed using limma in R comparing high and low risk genotype and asthma versus controls. Membrane bound IL1-RL1-b protein levels were determined using FACS.
Results
Presence of IL-33 during CD3/CD28 stimulation of TH2 effector cells in vitro results in extensive changes in gene expression, affecting up to 40% of the transcriptomic changes induced by TH2 cell activation. The fold change in gene expression induced by IL-33 was significantly higher in TH2 cells carrying the IL-1RL1 risk haplotype compared to the IL-1RL protective haplotype. However, the identity of the IL-33 regulated genes was not different between the IL-1RL1 haplotype groups. In addition, significant differences in IL-33 regulated genes were observed between Th2 cells derived from healthy controls and asthma patients. At the protein level, the change in TH2 cells expressing the transmembrane IL-1RL1 receptor was higher in asthma patients than in controls . 
Conclusions
The asthma-associated IL-1RL1 haplotype strongly increases the sensitivity of TH2 effector cell for IL-33-mediated regulation of gene expression, while disease status also has an independent effect. IL-33 in the airway wall will contribute to chronic inflammation maintained by TH2 effector cells mainly in patients with asthma carrying the IL-1RL1 asthma risk alleles. 


Enhanced IL-33 response in differentiated human TH2 cells carrying the IL-1RL1 asthma risk genotype

"Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has spread across the world, leading to government measures such as national lockdowns and social distancing which are associated with a negative impact on mental health. This study evaluated the impact of COVID-19 on anxiety, depression and resilience in Dutch individuals with CF or PCD and their caregivers during the second wave of the pandemic.
Methods: Adolescents (12-18 years), adults and caregivers of children (0-18 years) with CF or PCD completed questionnaires on anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), and resilience (BRS) from Sept 2020-Febr 2021. The psychosocial impact of COVID-19 was measured by the Exposure and Family Impact Survey (CEFIS) Part 2, which was translated into Dutch using EMA guidelines. Results from the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 were compared to participants’ pre-pandemic scores.
Results: 110 participants (CF: 62, PCD: 48. Patients: 41, caregivers: 69) showed a high prevalence of anxiety and depression (scores ≥ 5 on the GAD-7 and/or PHQ-9) during the pandemic: 31% & 36% respectively for CF, 44% & 33% PCD, 53% & 35% patients, 30% & 35% caregivers, but did not differ from pre-pandemic scores (all p-values > 0.05). Resilience was within the normal range (mean for CF: 3.3; PCD: 3.3; patients: 3.5; caregivers: 3.3). Mean CEFIS scores corresponded to a normal impact (patients: 24.7; caregivers: 21.6), 0 patients and 3 caregivers tested positive for COVID-19. 
Conclusion: The prevalence of elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression during the pandemic was high and there was no detected change in these symptoms compared to pre-pandemic. These results do still emphasize the need for psychological care in individuals with CF or PCD and their caregivers."
![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/5e9b7384c43c56bb73e0c9d117000979.png)

Anxiety, depression and resilience during COVID-19 in Dutch individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) or primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and their caregivers

Rationale: It is difficult to predict clinical outcome to long-acting bronchodilators (LABD) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Therefore, the multidimensional response to LABD was profiled in COPD patients participating in the ACTIVATE study and randomized to LABD.
Methods: In the ACTIVATE study, patients were randomized to aclicinium bromide/formoterol fumarate (AB/FF) or placebo for four weeks. The primary outcomes included (1) lung function as measured by functional residual capacity (FRC), residual volume (RV), and spirometric outcomes; (2) exercise performance as measured by a constant work rate cycle ergometry test (CWRT); and (3) physical activity (PA) using an activity monitor. Self-organizing maps (SOMs) were used to create an ordered respresentation of the patients who were randomly assigned to four weeks of AB/FF and cluster them into different outcome groups.
Results: 250 patients were randomized to AB/FF (n=126) or placebo (n=124). Patients in the AB/FF group (39.6% women) had moderate-to-severe COPD, static hyperinflation (FRC: 151.4 (27.7)% predicted) and preserved exercise capacity. Six clusters with differential outcomes were identified. Patients in cluster 1 and 2 had significant improvements in lung function compared to the remaining AB/FF-treated patients. Patients in clusters 1 and 3 had significant improvements in CWRT time, and patients in clusters 2, 3 and 6 had significant improvements in PA compared to the remaining AB/FF-treated patients.
Conclusions: Individual responses to 4 weeks of AB/FF-treatment in COPD are differential and the degree of change differs across domains of lung function, exercise capacity and PA. These results indicate that clinical response to LABD therapy is difficult to predict and non-linear, and show doctors that it is important to look at multiple outcomes simultaneously when evaluating the clinical response to LABD therapy.
Clinical Trial Registration: The original ACTIVATE study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, registration number NCT02424344.

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