الفهرس 
Pathophysiology and Risk FactorsOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a common preventable and treatable disease, is characterized by persistent airflow limitation that is usually progressive and associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airways and the lung to noxious particles or gases. Exacerbations and comorbidities contribute to the overall severity in individual patients.
Inhaled cigarette smoke and other noxious particles cause lung inflammation which may induce parenchymal tissue destruction (emphysema and disrupt normal repair and defense mechanisms.
A clinical diagnosis of COPD should be considered in any patient who has dyspnea, chronic cough or sputum production, and a history of exposure to risk factors for the disease.
Spirometry is required to make the diagnosis in this clinical context; the presence of a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 0.70 confirms the presence of persistent airflow limitation and thus of COPD.
The goals of COPD assessment are to determine the severity of the disease, including the severity of airflow limitation, the impact on the patient’s health status.