Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease becomes official journal of COPD Foundation

COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, the first journal dedicated to publishing a range of research on the impact of COPD, has become the official journal of the COPD Foundation.

The mission of the COPD Foundation is to develop and support programs that improve quality of life for people whose lives are impacted by COPD.

"We use research, education, early diagnosis and enhanced therapy with the aim of making life better for COPD patients and their families," explains John W. Walsh, President of the COPD Foundation. "COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which offers an in-depth and easy-to-access array of research findings in this field, is an ideal partner for the Foundation."

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is one of the world's largest health care concerns and its threat continues to worsen each year.

The COPD patient population across the seven major markets is expected to rise from an estimated 28.1 million in 2005 to 32 million in 2015, representing an astounding 14% increase. Indeed, in a report released in December 2010 by the CDC, COPD is listed as the third leading cause of death in the US.

"In part, this is due to individuals living longer, giving them more time to develop COPD," says Walsh. "The disease is also severely under diagnosed and undertreated in the US, demonstrated by the 12 million undiagnosed Americans living with COPD today."

"Unfortunately the rate of COPD will increase consistently in the near future. There is great and justifiable concern about the growing burden that this disease will pose over the next 5 to 10 years," adds Walsh.

First published in 2004, COPD is the world's first journal dedicated to publishing a range of research on the cell biology, pathophysiology, pharmacology and psychosocial impact of COPD.

"This is the beginning of a historic new partnership with the COPD Foundation," says Ashley Petrylak, Publisher of COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. "We are delighted to be named the Foundation's official journal and are very excited to pursue a shared goal in disseminating knowledge and information about COPD to the research and healthcare communities. We believe this mutual purpose will effect significant change in the field."