From this module you will learn:
- Who is commonly affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Risk factors for the development of COPD
- How it is diagnosed and common differential diagnoses
- How to assess the prognosis for patients
Download a printable PDF of this module – including the five-minute test – here.
What is COPD?
Approximately 1.2 million people in the UK are currently living with diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).(1)
It is a long-term respiratory condition where the flow of air into the lungs is restricted (obstructed).(2) This common condition is both preventable and amenable to symptomatic treatment.(3)
The term COPD encompasses emphysema and chronic bronchitis.(4) Emphysema is damage to the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs, and chronic bronchitis is long-term inflammation of the
