scope:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common respiratory diseases of the developed world and interest in the condition is burgeoning both among physicians encountering the disorder and within the pharmaceutical industry. International guidelines for diagnosis and management have been formulated and our basic understanding of the underlying disease processes has led to major improvements in patient care and the development of new methods of treatment. The new edition of this book reflects these many changes. Developments in the understanding of the underlying disease process, improvements in patient care and new methods of treatment are all covered by an international team of editors and contributors. The first edition published just as the topic was starting to emerge as a key area of interest. This new edition will confirm the text as the key reference work in the field.