Abstract
Despite the fact that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently treatable, it remains a serious global problem. In Europe, the prevalence ranges between 4 % and 10 % in people over 40 years of age.
However, since the disease is very underdiagnosed, the actual number of patients is assumed to be twice as high. Moreover, the prevalence continues to increase, especially In women.
Modern pharmacotherapy is able to influence numerous parameters, enhance the quality of life, improve the symptoms, and decrease exacerbations. It also seems to have a positive effect on COPD mortality [1].
Increasingly more money is spent on COPD (more than on bronchial asthma) and the expenses rise with the severity of the disease. The treatment of exacerbations is most expensive, accounting for as much as 70 % of the direct annual costs of COPD treatment.
Therefore, prevention of exacerbations is one of the priorities currently stressed in the development of new drugs