Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The term “chronic obstructive pulmonary disease” (COPD) refers to a spectrum of chronic respiratory diseases characterized by cough, sputum production, dyspnea, airflow limitation, and impaired gas exchange. Most often associated with cigarette smoking, COPD is estimated to affect at least 15 million Americans and is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States1. Indeed, the death rate has risen by 22 percent in the past decade, and the mortality rate 10 years after diagnosis is greater than 50 percent2. Although many issues remain unresolved, considerable advances have been made in the care of patients with this . . .