Via practica 9/2009

Systemic consequences of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and comorbidities

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. The airflow limitation is usually progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles and gases, particularly tobacco smoke. Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease primary affects the lungs, it also produces significant systemic consequences, such as malnutrition and skeletal muscles dysfunction, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome, depression and lung cancer. The systemic inflammation is probably the common factor of all these manifestations.

Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tobacco smoking, systemic inflammation, comorbidities