title: Asthma and COPD: definitions, epidemiology, and treatment guidelines.
abstract: Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are disorders that affect millions of people in the United States and other countries in the world. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that has cellular and molecular pathways. Affected patients have recurrent episodes of wheezing, dyspnea, chest tightness, and cough that can be treated to minimize impact. COPD is a disease that is characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. Prevalence of asthma may be leveling off. Prevalence of COPD is increasing, especially in women. Although several therapies are available, many patients do not seek treatment until COPD is moderately advanced.
authors: Department of pediatrics, division of allergy and immunology, College of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, USA. wberger@uci.edu
authors: William E
authors: WE
authors: Berger
authors: Douglas C
authors: DC
authors: Cline
mesh_terms: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents