ABSTRACT
The American Thoracic and the European Respiratory Societies have recently defined chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as a preventable and treatable disease state characterised by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible [1]. The airflow limitation is usually progressive and is associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles or gases, primarily caused by cigarette smoking. In some areas of the world where biomass fuel is used as a source of energy primarily for cooking, persons exposed to the particles can develop airflow obstruction that is indistinguishable from that characteristic of COPD [2]. Although COPD primarily affects the lungs, it also produces significant systemic consequences that are very important because their presence is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and also because some of them are amenable to therapy.
