Putting policy into practice: the example of COPD.

Chronic lung disease is one of the commonest reasons for consulting a health professional, and there may be as many as 3 million people in the UK with undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This fourth article in a series on long-term conditions examines the policy developments that have been put in place to manage the burden of chronic disease in England and Wales, and argues that more remains to be done if COPD is to be properly addressed.