International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Dove Medical Press is pleased to invite you to submit your research to an upcoming Article Collection on "Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Improving Physiological, Physical, and Psychological Health Outcomes in Individuals with COPD" in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Optimal management of COPD includes non-pharmacological interventions including pulmonary rehabilitation, smoking cessation, disease self-management, medication adherence, routine vaccinations, oxygen therapy and ventilatory support, and physical activity promotion. This Article Collection highlights new and innovative non-pharmacological interventions for improving physiological, physical, and psychological outcomes in individuals with COPD.

COPD is a leading cause of morbidity, disability, and mortality worldwide. The disease affects the whole person impacting physiological (e.g., lung function), physical (e.g., physical activity, exercise capacity), and psychological (i.e., depression) outcomes. Non-pharmacological interventions are part of guideline-based care for COPD. Yet, gaps in the management of COPD exist. Many non-pharmacological interventions are underutilized and/or benefits dwindle over time. For example, while pulmonary rehabilitation remains the gold-standard for improving an array of health outcomes, it remains severely underused and benefits begin to wane after 12 months. New and novel non-pharmacological intervention can supplement existing non-pharmacological interventions for individuals with COPD with the potential to improve physiological, physical, and psychological outcomes.

This Article Collection seeks articles focused on intervention development and testing (from preliminary/pilot to effectiveness, implementation and dissemination studies) of interventions targeting improvement in physiological, physical, and/or psychological outcomes. We welcome original research articles, short reports, and systematic reviews. Study protocols of highly innovative non-pharmacological interventions will also be considered. Interventions may include a single component (e.g., balance training) or multiple components (e.g., complex behavioral interventions). Interventions that include chronic pain management, treatment of sleep disturbances, integrative therapies such as mind-body interventions, and psychotherapies (i.e., cognitive behavioral therapy) are salient to this Article Collection. Outcomes should broadly fall within the categories of: physiological, physical, and psychological domains and may include primary and/or secondary outcomes, as well as secondary analysis of completed trials. Moderator and/or mediation analyses of completed trials asking how and for whom interventions work are also welcomed.

Keywords

• Non-pharmacological interventions
• Physiological
• Physical
• Psychological
• Outcomes

All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisors for this collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member). Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is 31 July 2026.

Please submit your manuscript on our website, quoting the promo code 15402 for a 10% discount on the Article Processing Charge and to indicate that your submission is for consideration in this Article Collection.

Please contact Zhiyuan Zhang at [email protected] with any queries regarding this Article Collection.

Guest Advisors

Patricia M. Bamonti, VA Boston Healthcare System, Harvard Medical School, USA

[email protected]

Patricia M. Bamonti, PhD, ABPP, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, is a Staff Psychologist at VA Boston Healthcare System. Dr. Bamonti studies the impact of depression and anxiety symptoms on health outcomes in the context of pulmonary rehabilitation and physical activity interventions. She is currently developing and testing an integrated physical activity intervention with cognitive behavioural therapy for individuals with COPD and comorbid depression and/or anxiety.

Marilyn L. Moy, VA Boston Healthcare System, Harvard Medical School, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, USA

[email protected]

Marilyn L. Moy, M.D., M.Sc., Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, is a Staff Pulmonary Physician at VA Boston Healthcare System. She is Medical Director of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program, accredited by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Dr. Moy studies the role of physical activity in the risk stratification of COPD, technology-based interventions to promote PA, and the biological mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of PA on COPD outcomes.

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Dove Medical Press is pleased to invite you to submit your research to an upcoming Article Collection on "Impact of comorbidities on COPD" in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide with an economic and social burden that is both substantial and increasing. A number of meta-analyses and systematic reviews provide evidence that prevalence of COPD is appreciable higher in smokers compared to non-smokers, in those >40 years of age compared to those <40, and in men compared to women. COPD is a progressive respiratory condition often accompanied by various comorbidities that significantly affect patient outcomes. It is estimated that 80% of COPD patients are likely to have at least one comorbidity. An increasing number of people in any aging population will suffer from multi-morbidity, defined as the presence of two or more chronic conditions, and COPD is present in most multi-morbid patients. The systemic involvement in patients with COPD, as well as the interactions between COPD and its comorbidities, justify the description of chronic systemic inflammatory syndrome.

The pathogenesis of COPD is closely linked with aging, as well as with cardiovascular, endocrine, musculoskeletal, renal, and gastrointestinal pathologies. These complex interactions are based on chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, chronic hypoxia, and multiple common predisposing factors, and are currently under intense research. The incidence of comorbidities increases later in life, decreasing the quality of life of patients with COPD, as well as complicating the management of the disease.

We welcome reviews and original articles. Potential topics of this Article Collection include but are not limited to:

• Assessment of COPD comorbidities by HRCT
• Lung cancer as fatal COPD comorbidity
• Overlap syndrome: COPD and sleep apnea
• Impact of diabetes on COPD
• Management of heart failure in COPD
• Risk of atherosclerosis in chronic respiratory diseases
• Link between COPD and autoimmune diseases
• New phenotype IPF plus emphysema

Keywords

• COPD
• Comorbidities
• Obstruction

All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisors for this collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member). Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is 30 June 2026.

Please submit your manuscript on our website, quoting the promo code 5293F to indicate that your submission is for consideration in this Article Collection.

Please contact Zhiyuan Zhang at [email protected] with any queries regarding this Article Collection.

Guest Advisors

Alexandru Corlateanu, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Moldova

[email protected]

Dr. Alexandru Corlateanu is the Professor and chief of Department of Respiratory medicine at State University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Nicolae Testemitanu", Chisinau, Moldova. He is National Leader for Moldova at The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and member of the The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Assembly for Moldova. He has written over 50 peer-reviewed articles and several book chapters. He is a reviewer for multiple reputed journals in the field of respiratory diseases.

Alexandr Ceasovschih, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Romania

[email protected]

MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Internal Medicine and Cardiology Consultant in Clinical Emergency Hospital Sfântul Spiridon, Iași, România. His Clarivate Web of Science h-index and consistent publication record reflect meaningful academic involvement, with a focus on areas of Internal Medicine. He is young fellow of European Society of Atherosclerosis and deputy editor in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, as well as reviewer in many Clarivate Web of Science journals.

Pradeesh Sivapalan, Herlev & Gentofte University Hospital, Denmark

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Pradeesh Sivapalan is a respiratory physician and clinical researcher based in Denmark. His research focuses on acute and chronic respiratory infections, COPD, and the use of biomarkers and randomized trials to guide treatment strategies. He has authored several high-impact publications and leads or co-leads multiple national and international research projects, including large pragmatic trials and registry-based studies. Pradeesh is also involved in medical education and mentoring of early-career researchers.

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Dove Medical Press is pleased to invite you to submit your research to an upcoming Article Collection on "Relationship, Intimacy and Sexual Health in COPD: Dyadic Processes, Biopsychosocial Perspectives and Interventions" in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive condition that impacts patients' lives far beyond respiratory impairment, limiting everyday functioning, changing identity and influencing interpersonal relationships. Increasingly, attention has turned toward how COPD influences relationship dynamics, intimacy and sexual health. These domains are central to quality of life but have historically been underexplored in respiratory research. This Article Collection seeks to advance a comprehensive understanding of how COPD intersects with relational and sexual wellbeing within a biopsychosocial framework. It emphasizes both individual and dyadic perspectives, recognizing that COPD affects not only those diagnosed but also their partners and broader relational contexts.

The topic of this Article Collection has direct implications for good patient care and patient-centered outcomes in COPD. While traditional clinical management often prioritizes physiological symptoms, evidence suggests that relational and sexual wellbeing significantly influence mental health, treatment adherence and overall quality of life. Unaddressed challenges in intimacy and partnership can contribute to social isolation, psychological distress and reduced coping capacity for both patients and partners. Conversely, supportive relationships and adaptive dyadic coping strategies can enhance resilience and facilitate adjustment to chronic illness. Despite this, healthcare systems frequently overlook these dimensions due to stigma, lack of training, or limited evidence-based guidance. By consolidating research in this area, this collection aims to inform clinical practice, promote open dialogue and support the development of interventions that address relational and sexual health as integral components of COPD care.

This Collection welcomes research spanning a broad range of topics related to relationship dynamics, intimacy, and sexual health in COPD. Relevant subtopics include but not limit to dyadic coping and adjustment, communication patterns, caregiver-partner experiences, sexual function and wellbeing, and the influence of gender and sex differences. Studies addressing diverse relationship forms – including heterosexual and same-sex partnerships – are encouraged, as are investigations focusing exclusively on partners. The collection also invites work on multimorbidity within individuals and couples, exploring how co-occurring conditions shape relational and sexual outcomes. Both descriptive and interventional research are within scope, including studies evaluating psychosocial, behavioral or clinical interventions. Submissions may include original research articles (quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods), systematic and narrative reviews, brief reports and perspectives, provided they align with the journal’s focus on COPD and contribute to advancing knowledge in this emerging and clinically relevant field.

Keywords

• Chronic respiratory disease
• Intimacy or intimate relations
• Sexual wellbeing
• Dyadic coping
• Partnership

All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisors for this collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member). Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

Please submit your manuscript on our website. The deadline for submitting manuscripts is 31 March 2027.

Please contact Zhiyuan Zhang at [email protected] with any queries regarding this Article Collection.

Guest Advisors

Ingeborg Farver-Vestergaard, Lillebaelt Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

[email protected]

Dr Farver-Vestergaard is a clinical psychologist and an associate professor in health psychology and respiratory care. She has conducted and supervised several studies within the field of sexual health and chronic respiratory conditions.

Yoon Frederiksen, Aarhus University, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark

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Dr Frederiksen is a clinical psychologist, certified in health psychology as well as clinical sexology. She is an associate professor in health psychology and clinical sexology.

Anders Løkke, Lillebaelt Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

[email protected]

Prof Løkke is a respiratory physician and a professor of intersectorial research and care. He has conducted and supervised numerous clinical and epidemiological studies focusing on biopsychosocial aspects and interventions in respiratory diseases, mainly COPD.

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