title: COPD: the scope of the problem in Europe.
abstract: In 1995, the European Respiratory Society published a European Consensus Statement on the optimal assessment and management of COPD. In the document, several important areas for future research are identified that may help to increase knowledge of the current situation of COPD within Europe; these include pathophysiology, epidemiology, and the clinical benefits of treatment. This article reviews a selection of important data that have become available since the consensus statement was published, with a specific focus on epidemiology and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. romain.pauwels@rug.ac.be
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pauwels
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003245:Consensus Statements as Topic; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012955:Societies, Medical; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D005938:Glucocorticoids