Chronic pulmonary obstruction

What it means

An anomaly that is characterized progressive airflow obstruction that is only partly reversible, inflammation in the airways, and systemic effects or comorbities.

COPD is usually conceptualized as a disease entity. It is heterogeneous histologically and pathogenically, and conventionally includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, It is included as a phenotype term as COPD is often annotated as a feature of other diseases.

In everyday care

Most people with this sign do not have a rare disease — it appears in common conditions far more often. These general reference pages cover the same topic:

Rare diseases that can present with this14

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · COPD