DOI: 10.2165/0115677-200816050-00001

The incidence and economic impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is escalating worldwide and is projected to remain on a positive trajectory for many years to come. At some point in this escalation, COPD may be regarded as a true epidemic. Unfortunately, the incidence among...

Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is a genetic disorder that leads to decreased circulating levels of AAT, which significantly increases the risk of serious lung and liver disease. Although previously considered to be limited to people of northern European ancestry, it is now known that...

Increased attention has recently been paid to disease management programs in the primary care of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Key elements of these programs are reactivation, lifestyle change, and exacerbation management. It is important that the patient is actively involved in...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem worldwide. It is the fourth leading cause of chronic morbidity and mortality in the US, and is projected to rank seventh in burden of disease worldwide by 2020. In contrast with a number of chronic diseases, COPD is...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a relatively new target for disease management programs; however, asthma has long been a focus for such programs, and can provide a template for respiratory disease management. A major difficulty when developing disease management programs in an...

Self-management is an essential component of disease management that involves collaboration between patients and healthcare providers to ensure patient engagement in behaviors that help control or reduce the impact of their disease. The self-management model assists patients in gaining skills to...

Treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) demands a great deal of time and technology, which physicians and healthcare systems tend to have in short supply. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the US and the disease is severely under-diagnosed. Many...

For many years, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been under-recognized and stigmatized. Misconceptions about this disease have led to under-treatment and under-funding, resulting in an increase in the burden of COPD. In 2005, the National Emphysema/COPD Association published the...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive chronic disease that is subject to acute exacerbations. Ideally, a patient with such a chronic disease should be provided with medical care that addresses these issues while empowering the patient to initiate rapid and definitive...