Early intervention in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - A review of the lung health study results

The Lung Health Study is the most extensive and comprehensive long-term study of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to date. Reports are now appearing from the initial phase of the study and those that have been published are reviewed. in brief, the most important intervention that can be taken by a smoker with early COPD is to stop smoking. This results in an initial improvement in lung function with a long-term slowing of the rate of decline.