COPD: early detection and intervention.

The compelling evidence for the increasing economic and social burden of COPD, resulting from its rising prevalence and significant morbidity, has been reviewed in other sections of this supplement. The impact of this disease within the United States and globally is projected to increase irrespective of short-term medical action, but developing successful strategies to identify the illness and reduce its impact is essential if this growing problem is to be managed successfully. In this article, some of the important concepts relevant to this process are considered, and some of the present techniques used to intervene in established COPD are reviewed.