COPD: new treatment strategies

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem that is projected to be the third leading cause of mortality by 2030. The most common aetiological factor related to the development of COPD is tobacco smoking, but exposure to burning biomass and outdoor air pollution are also major risk factors. The prevalence of COPD is projected to increase due to continued exposure to these risk factors and the aging of the world's population. The molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of COPD are complex and poorly understood and this has hampered the development of new therapies. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.