The aim of PRIME is to detect and early treat acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). COPD is a respiratory disease associated with aging with substantial and increasing burden throughout the world and in Portugal, mainly due to its frequent exacerbations. Early detection and treatment of AECOPD may thus lead to the optimization of patients’ outcomes and the reduction of the burden associated with COPD. However, to date, there is no model for early detection of AECOPD in clinical practice. The pulmonary microbiota has the potential to inform the trajectory of COPD, including AECOPD and its phenotypes, and therefore it will be investigated. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a key component of early treatment of AECOPD, however, supply is scarce and is usually only available in hospitals, although most AECOPD are managed in the community. Therefore, PR will be implemented in the community and a clinical decision algorithm will be developed to prioritize patients who will benefit most from PR, thus increasing access to evidence-based PR.

Investigator at IPLeiria
Joana Cruz

Duration
36 months (2018 – 2021)

Leading institution
University of Aveiro

Funding
POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028806