title: Epidemiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
abstract: Epidemiology can contribute in the fight against COPD by: providing information necessary for planning and management of health care; contributing to the knowledge of natural history and etiology, which is important for treatment and prevention; providing information for early detection and for clinical decision making.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van der Lende
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rijcken
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Scaf-Klomp
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Schouten
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D012907:Smoking