Professor Wang Chen: COPD and Complex Respiratory Disease Specialist
Professor Wang Chen is a senior respiratory physician, professor, doctoral supervisor, and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He has held major leadership roles in Chinese respiratory medicine and clinical research, including work at China-Japan Friendship Hospital and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.
His clinical and academic focus includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory failure, pulmonary vascular disease, pulmonary rehabilitation, tobacco-related lung disease, and the development of integrated respiratory care systems.
For an overview of the hospital, see our China-Japan Friendship Hospital international patient guide. Patients with severe pneumonia or complex respiratory infection can also read our profile of Professor Cao Bin.
Clinical and Academic Focus
Professor Wang’s principal areas include:
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
- chronic bronchitis and emphysema;
- acute and chronic respiratory failure;
- pulmonary vascular disease;
- long-term oxygen and non-invasive ventilation;
- pulmonary rehabilitation;
- smoking-related respiratory disease;
- complex cases requiring multidisciplinary respiratory care; and
- second opinions on long-term respiratory treatment.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, causes persistent airflow limitation and symptoms such as breathlessness, cough, sputum, wheezing, reduced exercise tolerance, and repeated chest infections. Tobacco smoke is a major cause, but air pollution, occupational exposure, biomass fuel, early-life factors, and genetic conditions can also contribute.
Diagnosis requires spirometry showing persistent airflow obstruction. Symptom severity, exacerbation history, oxygen level, imaging, heart health, muscle strength, nutrition, and other conditions should also be assessed.
Treatment may include inhaled bronchodilators, selected inhaled corticosteroids, vaccination, smoking cessation, pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen, non-invasive ventilation, nutrition support, and management of related conditions.
COPD Exacerbations
An exacerbation is an acute worsening of breathlessness, cough, or sputum beyond normal day-to-day variation. Triggers may include viral or bacterial infection, air pollution, heart failure, pulmonary embolism, or poor adherence to treatment.
Frequent exacerbations increase the risk of hospitalization, lung-function decline, and death. Prevention should include correct inhaler technique, medication review, vaccination, rehabilitation, and an individualized action plan.
Sudden severe breathlessness, confusion, chest pain, blue lips, or low oxygen requires immediate local emergency care.
Respiratory Failure
Respiratory failure occurs when the lungs cannot provide sufficient oxygen, remove enough carbon dioxide, or both. It may develop acutely during infection or another crisis, or chronically in advanced lung, chest-wall, neuromuscular, or sleep-related disease.
Assessment may involve arterial blood gases, oxygen monitoring, pulmonary-function tests, chest imaging, sleep evaluation, and review of heart and neuromuscular function.
Treatment can include oxygen, high-flow nasal support, non-invasive ventilation, invasive ventilation, treatment of the underlying cause, and rehabilitation. Oxygen and ventilation settings should be prescribed and monitored rather than adjusted without medical guidance.
Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Pulmonary vascular disease affects the blood vessels of the lungs and may cause breathlessness, chest discomfort, fainting, leg swelling, or reduced exercise capacity. Causes include pulmonary arterial hypertension, chronic blood clots, left-heart disease, and advanced lung disease.
Evaluation may require echocardiography, CT pulmonary angiography, ventilation-perfusion scanning, lung-function testing, exercise assessment, and right-heart catheterization.
Treatment depends on the exact classification. Medicines used for pulmonary arterial hypertension can be ineffective or harmful in other types, so specialist diagnosis is essential.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Pulmonary rehabilitation combines supervised exercise, education, breathing strategies, nutrition, and self-management. It can improve exercise capacity, symptoms, and quality of life in many patients with chronic lung disease.
Programs should be individualized according to oxygen needs, heart health, muscle strength, balance, frailty, and recent exacerbations. Rehabilitation can be useful even when lung-function measurements do not improve.
National Respiratory Research
Professor Wang has led influential research into the prevalence and burden of COPD in China. Large population studies have demonstrated the scale of undiagnosed airflow limitation and the need for earlier detection and prevention.
He has also contributed to clinical research infrastructure and integrated care models for respiratory disease. Population findings can guide public health, but they do not replace spirometry and individualized assessment for a particular patient.
Who May Consider a Consultation?
A consultation with Professor Wang or the China-Japan Friendship Hospital respiratory team may be worth considering when a patient:
- has severe or rapidly progressive COPD;
- has frequent exacerbations or repeated hospital admissions;
- remains breathless despite inhaled treatment;
- may require long-term oxygen or non-invasive ventilation;
- has unexplained low oxygen or high carbon dioxide;
- has suspected pulmonary hypertension or chronic thromboembolic disease;
- needs a comprehensive pulmonary-rehabilitation plan; or
- requires a second opinion on complex chronic respiratory care.
Medical Records to Prepare
International patients should prepare:
- a concise medical summary and symptom timeline;
- spirometry and full pulmonary-function test reports;
- chest CT and X-ray images in original DICOM format;
- oxygen saturation and arterial blood gas results;
- hospital records from recent exacerbations;
- echocardiography, pulmonary vascular imaging, and right-heart catheterization results when relevant;
- sleep studies and ventilation-device reports;
- a list or photographs of inhalers, oxygen equipment, and current settings;
- smoking, occupational, pollution, and biomass exposure history; and
- a clear list of questions about diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.
Patients should bring previous pulmonary-function tests and CT scans so the specialist can assess change over time.
Planning an International Consultation
Patients with unstable breathing or active respiratory failure require local emergency or inpatient care. Stable patients seeking a second opinion should confirm whether records can be reviewed and whether an in-person examination is required.
Remote medical-record review is subject to physician authorization. It may help clarify the next step, but oxygen, ventilation, and medication changes require complete clinical assessment.
How CMCS Can Assist
CMCS – China Medical Concierge Shanghai is an independent medical concierge and health management company, not a hospital. We assist international patients with organizing and translating respiratory records and imaging, identifying an appropriate specialist, requesting appointment availability, arranging interpretation, and planning medical travel in China.
Access to Professor Wang, remote review, inpatient care, or any particular treatment is subject to the doctor’s and hospital’s approval. CMCS does not guarantee appointments, admission, treatment eligibility, or clinical outcomes.
For assistance, contact CMCS:
- Email: contract@medicalsh.com
- WhatsApp: Contact us on WhatsApp
- Website: www.medicalsh.com
Important Note
Doctor titles, clinical roles, research activities, treatment availability, and appointment arrangements may change. Patients should confirm current information before travel. This profile is based on publicly available hospital and academic sources and is provided for general information only. It is not individual medical advice and does not replace assessment by a qualified respiratory physician.
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