More than 100,000 deaths each year are attributable to these conditions.
Medications delivered by the inhalation route represent the most common form of drug therapy.
COPD Chronic bronchitis and emphysema constitute the majority of COPD cases, affecting more than 15 million patients and representing the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. In COPD, airflow limitation is chronic and doesn't change markedly over time due to the irreversible nature of the damage present. The primary risk factor for development of COPD is cigarette smoking. The effects of COPD medications are variable. Patients with irreversible or fixed airflow obstruction exhibit minimal improvement, whereas others will receive substantial improvements in subjective symptoms and objective measures.