[COPD guideline of Japanese Respiratory Society].

Standard for the diagnosis and care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was published from Japanese Respiratory Society in 1999. In this guideline the definition, epidemiology, risk factors, pathology, methods of diagnosis, methods of therapy and care were fully described. Especially, in this guideline, we used the thin slice CT for the diagnosis and classification of disease severity. After the publication, this guidelines were distributed to all of the JRS members(about 10,000 doctors).