title: Early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: definition, assessment, and prevention.
abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide. COPD, however, is a heterogeneous collection of diseases with differing causes, pathogenic mechanisms, and physiological effects. Therefore a comprehensive approach to COPD prevention will need to address the complexity of COPD. Advances in the understanding of the natural history of COPD and the development of strategies to assess COPD in its early stages make prevention a reasonable, if ambitious, goal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA. Electronic address: srennard@unmc.edu.
authors.forename: Stephen I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Rennard
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: M Bradley
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Drummond
mesh_terms: D000420:Albuterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004338:Drug Combinations; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D061345:Early Medical Intervention; D005080:Exercise Test; D000068297:Fluticasone-Salmeterol Drug Combination; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016540:Smoking Cessation
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000068297:Fluticasone-Salmeterol Drug Combination; D000420:Albuterol