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Conference In Philly Weighs Treatments For COPD

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Researchers and medical professionals from across the globe gathered in Philadelphia on Wednesday for a conference to review the latest therapies for treating a debilitating lung disease.

It's called C-O-P-D or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Dr. Gerard Criner, chair of thoracic medicine and surgery at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, says there is growing concern about a rise in the diagnosed cases of the disease.

"The prevalence of smoking is increasing in countries that were less developed but becoming more developed so that's on the rise in countries such as China and some other countries in southeast Asia like India."

Dr. Gerard Criner
Dr. Gerard Criner (credit: mark Abrams)

Criner says C-O-P-D is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and the 14th leading cause of disability worldwide.

"Patients with C-O-P-D just don't have lung disease," he said. "They might have non-pulmonary manifestations of the disease such as cardiac disease, fatigue or weight loss."

Criner says there is no cure, but the disease is treatable with new therapies that are extending lives.

He says new therapies such as inhalers, drugs and even advanced surgeries were discussed at the conference. Criner says they're designed to not only treat the disease, but improve a patient's quality of life.

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