Since the publication of the first edition, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as a public health issue, has increased in line with the predictions of the World Health Organization and by the year 2020, will become one of the main killers of human life.

With several important large scaled trials becoming available and our knowledge of COPD's determinants rapidly growing, it was essential to update Clinical Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with a second edition that will enable physicians to stay informed, aid in the clinical diagnosis, and the proper treatment of COPD

Within this text expert analysis will examine:

• 
  
  
• new treatments and combative strategies developed from recent and current clinical trails
• 
  
  
• the pathological and physiological mechanisms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• 
  
  
• current and up to date information from developing worlds faced with the COPD epidemic
• 
  
  
• the burden COPD has and will have in the future for patients, treatments and society