Researchers at the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), working within the COSYCONET study, have demonstrated that polygenic risk scores (PRS) can predict lung function decline as well as the development of early Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The findings were recently published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A key challenge remains the early identification of individuals at high risk for rapid deterioration of lung function. A new investigation involving leading DZL researchers now provides important insights into how genetic information can be used for clinical prediction.
COSYCONET data enable precise analyses
For the study, the team used data from the COSYCONET cohort, one of the most comprehensive studies on COPD in Germany. The researchers analyzed so-called polygenic risk scores (PRS), which are aggregated measures reflecting an individual’s genetic risk based on a large number of small genetic variants across the genome.
The results show that these risk scores are significantly associated with lung function decline and can help predict cases of early COPD. This underscores the potential of genetic profiles for future risk stratification of patients.
Strong collaboration within the DZL
The study is the result of close collaboration across multiple sites and disciplines. Researchers from the DZL sites in Marburg (UGMLC) and Heidelberg (TLRC) played a key role. The work clearly demonstrates how the expertise pooled within the DZL in pulmonology, genetics, and bioinformatics contributes to the development of innovative approaches to precision medicine in lung diseases.
