Association between automatic AI-based quantification of airway-occlusive mucus plugs and all-cause mortality in patients with COPD

Thorax, vol. 80, pp. 105–108

Abstract

In this cohort study involving 9399 current and former smokers from the Genetic Epidemiology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease study, we assessed the relationship between artificial intelligence-quantified mucus plugs on chest CTs and all-cause mortality. Our results revealed a significant positive association, particularly for those with COPD GOLD stages 1-4, with HRs of 1.18 for 1-2 mucus-obstructed bronchial segments and 1.27 for ≥3 obstructed segments. This corroborates previous visual mucus plug counting research and demonstrates the relevance of mucus plugs in COPD pathology and as a marker for risk assessment. Automated mucus plug quantification methods may provide an efficient tool for both clinical evaluations and research.

Authors 8

1. Tjeerd van der Veer corresponding Aachen Respiratory Medicine

   Leiden University Medical Center · Erasmus MC

   Affiliation as printed

   Respiratory Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands t.vanderveer@lumc.nl

   Respiratory Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands

   Respiratory Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands

2. Eleni‐Rosalina Andrinopoulou

   Erasmus MC

   Affiliation as printed

   Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands

   Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands

3. Gert‐Jan Braunstahl

   Erasmus MC · Sint Franciscus Gasthuis

   Affiliation as printed

   Pulmonology, Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland, Rotterdam, Netherlands

   Respiratory Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands

4. Jean Paul Charbonnier
   Affiliation as printed

   Thirona BV, Nijmegen, Netherlands

5. Victor Kim

   Temple University

   Affiliation as printed

   Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

6. Rudolfs Latisenko
   Affiliation as printed

   Respiratory Medicine, Thirona BV, Nijmegen, Netherlands

7. David A. Lynch

   National Jewish Health

   Affiliation as printed

   Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA

8. Harm A.W.M. Tiddens

   Erasmus MC

   Affiliation as printed

   Pediatric Pulmonology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands

   Thirona BV, Nijmegen, Netherlands