Airway Clearance Indications in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Overview

The costs of COPD are enormous. The economic burden upon the health care system, society at large, and affected patients and their families is staggering. Costs, both economic and human, associated with medical and auxiliary care, loss of livelihood, diminished quality of life and reduced life expectancy cannot be estimated. As knowledge of the pathophysiology of COPD expands, as awareness of the enormous social and economic impact of COPD grows, and as the success of smoking cessation strategies improves, it is realistic to hope that this public health epidemic can be controlled.