Chronic diseases increase their prevalence as the population pyramid inverses and respiratory diseases are among the most frequent conditions in old individuals. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a multi factorial entity with a wide range of clinical manifestations, and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. It is a preventable and treatable respiratory disorder largely caused by smoking, and is characterized by progressive, partially reversible airflow obstruction and lung hyperinflation with significant extra pulmonary manifestations and comorbid conditions. All of which may contribute to the severity of the disease in individual patients. It is estimated that about 30 million people in the United States have COPD. As many as half are unaware that they have it. COPD is the major cause of chronic morbidity and will rank 7th of global burden of diseases in 2030. The estimated prevalence of COPD are 4-20% worldwide in adults over 40 years of age and 6.3% in Asian population. Furthermore, it is the 4th most common causes of hospitalization and most economic burden among chronic diseases in old age patients.
Key words: COPD, Emphysema, Lung hyperinflation, Smoking
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