Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, chronic obstructive airways disease)

• A disease of adults, especially those over the age of 45 with a history of smoking or inhalation of airborne pollution.
• The disease has features of emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
• It is diagnosed when the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) is less than 60% of the predicted value for the patients age and height and the patient does not respond to steroid drugs or bronchodilators.
• In comparison to asthma, there is less response to inhaled corticosteroids, which may only be indicated for patients with frequent excerbations.