Contemporary Concise Review 2019: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health burden throughout the world.[1] The burden is disproportionately higher in Asia (than elsewhere) where ~2 million individuals die each of year from this disease, representing two-thirds of all COPD deaths around the world.[2] Owing largely to population growth and ageing, this number is expected to grow to 3 million deaths/year by the year 2040.[2] Cordova-Rivera I et al i . applied wearable accelerometer on 67 patients with moderate COPD (mean forced expiratory volume of 1 s (FEV SB 1 sb ) of 56% and mean age of 70 years) and found that on average patients walked 2858 steps/day.[4] In contrast, control subjects (i.e. those without COPD) walked 7640 steps/day. Given the high prevalence of cardiovascular complications during acute COPD exacerbations, cardiopulmonary imaging may be helpful in the assessment of COPD patients during major "lung attacks". There is widespread consensus that pulmonary rehabilitation imparts clinical benefits for COPD patients; however, as noted by Holland, only ~1% of eligible COPD patients participate.[16] Patients with severe COPD with elevated PaCO SB 2 sb are generally excluded from participation in pulmonary rehabilitation owing to severe breathlessness and concerns about worsening hypercapnic respiratory failure during exercise. [Extracted from the article]