Inflammatory parameters and pulmonary biomarkers in smokers with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Background: We organized this study in order to investigate differences in serum inflammatory profiles and circulating serum pneumoproteins between smokers with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: Patients aged 35-70 years with COPD and a smoking history ≥10 pack-years (cases, n=38) and 38 participants with the same smoking history without COPD (controls) were included in a comparative study conducted as part of a population-based cross-sectional study with 2,388 individuals in northwestern Russia. Cases and controls were matched for age and smoking history.