Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ( COPD )

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ( COPD ) is a common, preventable and treatable disease that is characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation that is due to airway and / or alveolar abnormalities usually caused by significant exposure to noxious particles or gases and influenced by host factors including abnormal lung development ( GOLD 2020 )

COPD is an umbrella term that includes a diverse group of conditions with a common feature-obstructive ventilatory disorders

Chronic bronchitis -With an obstructive ventilatory pattern that is chronic bronchitis with permanent obstruction of airways ie FEV1 / FVC ratio of < 70 %

Chronic respiratory failure -With an obstructive ventilatory pattern that is chronic bronchitis with permanent obstruction of airways ie FEV1 / FVC ration of < 70 %

Emphysema -Defined at the anatomical level- the destruction of the walls of the alveolar sacs / ducts distal to terminal bronchiole with an abnormal increase in the size of distal airways. Two patterns can be seen (1) centrilobular -associated with cigarette smoking (2 ) Panlobular see more often with α 1-antitrypsin deficiency

How common - Prevalence may vary widely as survey methods , diagnostic criteria and analytical approaches may differ A disease seen mostly...