From the match to the torch: new progress against an old adversary

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a medical problem of significant worldwide importance. Millions of patients are severely affected worldwide, and healthcare costs range in the billions of dollars per year. The importance of this illness and its effect on the world population have recently been emphasized in the report of the international consortium called the Gold Initiative. This group has now published several updates to their original report. The following monograph summarizes this important disease process and review recent research in this significant area of clinical medicine.