Why More Research into Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of COPD Is Needed

COPD is a major and increasing global health problem, which is predicted to become the third commonest cause of death and the fifth commonest cause of disability in the world by 2020 (1). Indeed the World Health Organization has already demonstrated that COPD is now ranked as the fourth commonest cause of death worldwide (2). COPD is the only common cause of death in the United States of America that has increased over the last 20 years and in the UK it now causes over 30,000 deaths a year (3).