![]() ![]() 2,3 Because the vast majority of COPD cases are due to tobacco exposure, COPD is considered a largely preventable disease. 1 Unfortunately, contrary to patterns seen with other diseases, prevalence and mortality from COPD continue to climb, and death rates doubled within a span of 30 years. In 2020, COPD was the fifth-leading cause of death due to disease, after heart disease, cancer, death from COVID-19, and stroke. In the United States, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) carries a large burden of morbidity and mortality for patients. Treatment selection is guided on severity of symptoms, spirometry measurements, and exacerbation risk. Smoking cessation in patients who are current smokers has the largest propensity to decrease disease burden and should always remain a priority for clinicians. Unfortunately, optimal treatment of COPD continues to be a therapeutic challenge, as current medications available for COPD largely do not modify the course of the disease. Recent efforts have also focused on identifying the degree of dyspnea and impairment of quality of life when determining the optimal treatment course. Hallmark symptoms of COPD include dyspnea that is progressively worse, chronic cough, sputum production, and recurrent lower respiratory tract infections, and a clinical diagnosis can be confirmed with the use of spirometry measurements. Because the vast majority of COPD cases are due to smoking, it remains a highly preventable disease. ABSTRACT: In the United States and worldwide, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) carries a large burden of mortality and morbidity. ![]()
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