Recent clinical studies suggest that high levels of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) protein in the blood are associated with an increased yearly rate of all-cause COPD exacerbations.
Furthermore, high levels of GDF15 were associated with higher mortality (hazard ratio 2.07, 95% CI 1.4-3.1, p<0.001) and an increased decline in both FEV<sub>1</sub> (4.29% <i>versus</i> 3.25%) and FVC (2.63% <i>versus</i> 1.44%) in comparison to low levels (p<0.01 for both).In patients with COPD, high levels of GDF15 were independently associated with a higher yearly rate of exacerbations, higher mortality and increased decline in both FEV<sub>1</sub> and FVC.