Blood Test Could Gauge Your Odds for Lung Trouble Like COPD

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 11, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- An experimental blood test could one day help identify people most likely to develop severe lung problems like COPD.

The test reviews a panel of 32 proteins in blood that best predict people most likely to suffer a rapid decline in lung function, according to a study published recently in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Adults with higher test scores have:

An 84% increased risk of COPD

An 81% increased chance of dying from a respiratory disease like COPD or pneumonia

A 17% increased risk of requiring hospital care for respiratory problems