Clinical characteristics of AATD-related COPD patients vary with age at diagnosis: data from the EARCO international registry

Background: This study aims to evaluate the clinical characteristics of COPD patients with AATD according to their age at diagnosis. Conclusion: Patients diagnosed at an older age had lower tobacco exposure and less severe disease. This suggests that subclinical symptoms may contribute to delays in diagnosis, as COPD features can be subtle or under-recognised until later in life. Our findings highlight the importance of considering AATD in all COPD patients, regardless of age, to avoid missed or delayed diagnoses.