Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, progressive respiratory condition defined by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. It encompasses two overlapping pathological components: chronic bronchitis, marked by inflammation and hypersecretion in the airw…
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, progressive respiratory condition defined by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. It encompasses two overlapping pathological components: chronic bronchitis, marked by inflammation and hypersecretion in the airways with chronic productive cough, and emphysema, characterized by destruction of alveolar walls and loss of elastic recoil. The pathophysiology centers on chronic airway and parenchymal inflammation that leads to small-airway obstruction, air trapping and hyperinflation, impaired gas exchange, and in advanced disease, hypoxemia. Cigarette smoking is the dominant risk factor, with advancing age, occupational and environmental exposures, and genetic susceptibility also contributing. The disease is heterogeneous, and distinct phenotypes have been described according to symptom burden, exacerbation frequency, and coexisting conditions such as bronchiectasis. Comorbidities are frequent and clinically important, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic disturbance, and markers such as microalbuminuria that may accompany hypoxemia. Acute exacerbations, often infective, drive disease progression, hospitalization, and decline in lung function. Diagnosis and severity grading rely on spirometry to demonstrate persistent airflow limitation, supplemented in research and administrative settings by claims-derived classification. Management combines smoking cessation, inhaled bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, and, in selected emphysema, bronchoscopic lung volume reduction.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 28 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on COPD, linking to each citing work.