Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (page 1 of 11)
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Background
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a disease state characterised by airflow obstruction that is not fully reversible. It is predominantly caused by smoking, although other factors such as occupational exposures also contribute to the development. The obstruction arises from chronic inflammation in the airways and lung parenchyma. COPD produces symptoms, disability and impaired quality of life but significant airflow obstruction may be present before the patient is aware of symptoms. COPD is the preferred term for patients who may have been labelled as having chronic bronchitis or emphysema in the past.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is generally a progressive disease. If the patient stops smoking, the disease may still progress due to the decline in lung function that occurs with the normal aging process. However, ongoing smoking accelerates the process.
Prevalence
The prevalence of COPD is uncertain since many patients are asymptomatic in the early stages or do not seek medical attention. However, in a national study of patients aged 18-65 in the UK, 10% men and 11% women had an abnormally low forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1); half of these individuals had not previously been diagnosed. Although the prevalence of COPD in men appears to have reached a plateau, it is still rising in women. In the UK, 27,478 people died as a result of COPD in 2004,3 representing 5% of all deaths. Morbidity is also high. In 2002, there were 110,000 hospital admissions for COPD in England and Wales, representing 1•1 million inpatient days (Department of Health, Health Solutions Wales). The annual total direct cost of COPD to the NHS is estimated at £491,652,000.
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