Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Growing but Neglected Global Epidemic

hronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major and increasing global health epidemic that has received insuffi cient attention from the health-care profession, governments, and the pharmaceutical industry. Urgent action is now required to recognise the disease, predicted to soon become one of the major causes of death and disability, and to develop more effective prevention and treatment strategies.