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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
ABC of COPD / edited by Graeme P. Currie.2nd ed.
p. cm.(ABC series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4443-3388-6
1. LungsDiseases, Obstructive. I. Currie, Graeme P. II. Series: ABC series (Malden, Mass.)
[DNLM: 1. Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive. WF 600]
RC776.O3A23 2011
616.24dc22
2010029198
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
This book is published in the following electronic formats: ePDF 9781444329476; ePub 9781444329483
1 2011
Contributors
Peter J. Barnes
Professor of Respiratory Medicine
Airway Disease Section
National Heart and Lung Institute
Imperial College London
London, UK
David Bellamy
Bournemouth General Practitioner (retired)
Bournemouth, UK
John Britton
Professor of Epidemiology
UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies
University of Nottingham;
Consultant in Respiratory Medicine
City Hospital
Nottingham, UK
Mahendran Chetty
Consultant in Respiratory Medicine
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Aberdeen, UK
Graeme P. Currie
Consultant in Respiratory and General Medicine
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Aberdeen, UK
Graham S. Devereux
Professor of Respiratory Medicine
Division of Applied Health Sciences
University of Aberdeen;
Consultant in Respiratory Medicine
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Aberdeen, UK
Graham Douglas
Consultant in Respiratory Medicine
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Aberdeen, UK
Cathy Jackson
Professor of Primary Care Medicine;
Director of Clinical Studies
Bute Medical School
University of St Andrews
St Andrews, UK
Gordon Linklater
Consultant in Palliative Care Medicine
Roxburghe House
Aberdeen, UK
Brian J. Lipworth
Professor of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine
Asthma and Allergy Research Group
Ninewells Hospital and Medical School
Dundee, UK
William MacNee
Professor of Respiratory and Environmental Medicine
MRC Centre for Inflammation Research
Queen's Medical Research Institute
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, UK
Paul K. Plant
Consultant in Respiratory Medicine
St James's University Hospital
Leeds, UK
Jadwiga A. Wedzicha
Professor of Respiratory Medicine
Royal Free and University College Medical
School
University College
London, UK
Foreword
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global epidemic. It already is the fourth commonest cause of death in high income countries and is predicted to soon become the third commonest cause of death worldwide. In the United Kingdom, the mortality from COPD in women now exceeds that from breast cancer. COPD is also predicted to become the fifth commonest cause of chronic disability, largely because of the increasing levels of cigarette smoking in developing countries in conjunction with an ageing population. It now affects approximately 10% of men and women over 40 years in the United Kingdom and is one of the commonest causes of hospital admission. Because of this, COPD has an increasing economic impact, and direct healthcare costs now exceed those of asthma by more than threefold. Despite these startling statistics, COPD has been relatively neglected and is still underdiagnosed in primary care settings. This is in marked contrast to asthma, which is now recognised and well managed in the community. The new NHS National Strategy seeks to improve diagnosis and management of COPD in the community and reduce hospital admissions.
Highly effective treatment is now available for asthma, which has in turn transformed patients' lives. Sadly, this is not the case with COPD, where management is less effective and no drug has so far been shown to convincingly slow progression of the disease. However, we do now have effective bronchodilators and non-pharmacological treatments, which can improve the quality of life of patients. Many patients, however, are not diagnosed or undertreated, so increased awareness of COPD is needed. There are advances in understanding the underlying inflammatory disease, so this may lead to more effective use of existing treatment and the development of new drugs in the future. In this second edition of the ABC COPD monograph, Graeme Currie and colleagues provide a timely update on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and modern management of COPD. It is vital that COPD is recognised and treated appropriately in general practice where the majority of patients are managed, and this book provides a straightforward overview of the key issues relating to this important condition.