@article {20347,
	title = {Prevalence and clinical implications of respiratory viruses in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and exacerbations: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol},
	journal = {BMJ OpenBMJ OpenBMJ Open},
	volume = {10},
	number = {4},
	year = {2020},
	note = {2044-6055Kefala, Anastasia MFortescue, RebeccaAlimani, Gioulinta SKanavidis, ProdromosMcDonnell, Melissa JaneMagiorkinis, EmmanouilMegremis, SpyridonParaskevis, DimitriosVoyiatzaki, ChrysaMathioudakis, Georgios APapageorgiou, EffiePapadopoulos, Nikolaos GVestbo, J{\o}rgenBeloukas, ApostolosOrcid: 0000-0001-5639-0528Mathioudakis, Alexander GOrcid: 0000-0002-4675-9616Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov{\textquoteright}tBMJ Open. 2020 Apr 7;10(4):e035640. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035640.},
	month = {Apr 7},
	pages = {e035640},
	edition = {2020/04/10},
	abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Both stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and acute exacerbations represent leading causes of death, disability and healthcare expenditure. They are complex, heterogeneous and their mechanisms are poorly understood. The role of respiratory viruses has been studied extensively but is still not adequately addressed clinically. Through a rigorous evidence update, we aim to define the prevalence and clinical burden of the different respiratory viruses in stable COPD and exacerbations, and to investigate whether viral load of usual respiratory viruses could be used for diagnosis of exacerbations triggered by viruses, which are currently not diagnosed or treated aetiologically. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Based on a prospectively registered protocol, we will systematically review the literature using standard methods recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation working group. We will search Medline/PubMed, Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMBASE), the Cochrane Library, the WHO{\textquoteright}s Clinical Trials Registry and the proceedings of relevant international conferences on 2 March 2020. We will evaluate: (A) the prevalence of respiratory viruses in stable COPD and exacerbations, (B) differences in the viral loads of respiratory viruses in stable COPD vs exacerbations, to explore whether the viral load of prevalent respiratory viruses could be used as a diagnostic biomarker for exacerbations triggered by viruses and (C) the association between the presence of respiratory viruses and clinical outcomes in stable COPD and in exacerbations. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval is not required since no primary data will be collected. Our findings will be presented in national and international scientific conferences and will be published in peer reviewed journals. Respiratory viruses currently represent a lost opportunity to improve the outcomes of both stable COPD and exacerbations. Our work aspires to {\textquoteright}demystify{\textquoteright} the prevalence and clinical burden of viruses in stable COPD and exacerbations and to promote clinical and translational research. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42019147658.},
	keywords = {*adult thoracic medicine, *chronic airways disease, *epidemiology, *respiratory infections, Biotech, Boehringer Ingelheim and grans from Gerolymatos International SA and, Capricare, outside the submitted work. JV reports personal fees from Chiesi, Menarini/Faes Farma, Sanofi, Mylan/Meda, Biomay, AstraZeneca, GSK, MSD, Asit, outside the submitted work. NGP reports personal fees from Novartis, Nutricia, HAL,, Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, AstraZeneca, GSK, outside the, submitted work. AGM reports grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, outside the submitted, work.},
	isbn = {2044-6055},
	author = {Kefala, A. M. and Fortescue, R. and Alimani, G. S. and Kanavidis, P. and McDonnell, M. J. and Magiorkinis, E and Megremis, S. and Paraskevis, D and Voyiatzaki, C. and Mathioudakis, G. A. and Papageorgiou, E. and Papadopoulos, N. G. and Vestbo, J and Beloukas, A. and Mathioudakis, A. G.}
}
