Title:COPD Evaluation: Beyond the Airway Obstruction, a Follow Up
Volume: 9
Issue: 2
Author(s): Asif Najmuddin, Naga Sirikonda and Harakh V. Dedhia
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Airflow obstruction, chronic bronchitis, COPD, pneumonia, pulmonary disease, pulmonary venous thrombo-embolism.
Abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects over 10% of the adult population worldwide and is
currently projected to become the third leading cause of death by year 2030 [1]. We believe, COPD should be viewed as a
multisystem disorder with clearly identified extra-pulmonary manifestations including weight loss, myopathy,
cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, malignancies, bone mineral disease and psychological disorders. Most of these comorbidities
are also important not only to understand the burden of this progressive disease, but also to devise effective
therapeutic strategies [2]. This article reviews the current understanding of the systemic manifestations of COPD, which
includes everything except airflow obstruction, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. For colleagues interested in reviewing
the main component of COPD therapy, we urge to review an excellent article published in American Journal of
Respiratory Critical Care Medicine volume 187, page 337- 365, Feb 15, 2013.
