First, the study participants with stable COPD exhibited distinct alterations in serum levels of ferroptosis-associated factors when compared to controls, specifically, higher levels of sTfR1, lower levels of GPX4, and increased sTfR1/GPX4, while serum levels of ACSL4 and AIFM2 remained unchanged. Here, AIFM2 is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.