Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: importance of diagnosis.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common, smoking-related respiratory disease. It is responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality and accounts for a large amount of NHS resources. Despite this, it is underdiagnosed, often poorly managed and its impact on patients is underestimated (British Thoracic Society (BTS), 2001). The first step is to make an accurate diagnosis at as early a stage as possible. This article explores the prevalence, impact and presentation of the disease and how it can be identified and diagnosed.