Multi-center Korean cohort study based on RNA-sequencing data targeting COPD patients

To determine gene expression changes that contribute to the development of COPD among smokers using high-throughput RNA sequencing in the peripheral blood of COPD patients. Total RNA sequencing was investigated by prospectively collecting lung function test results and whole blood samples from smokers who visited the outpatient department of respiratory medicine at three hospitals since 2020. This study confirmed gene expression differences in non-coding RNA in COPD patients according to the degree of airflow limitation through RNA-Seq transcriptome analysis. These results may provide valuable predictive resources for future COPD research. Overall design: A transcriptomic epidemiologic study was conducted on a total of 294 patients with mild to severe COPD at three hospitals located in South Korea.