PG13 - COPD: genetic and environmental factors, epidemiology, socio-economic impact and preventative measures

Postgraduate Course
Chairs: P. M. A. Calverley (Liverpool, United Kingdom), C. O'Connor (Dublin, Ireland)
Aims: This is the third course in a three-year postgraduate core curriculum covering the main issues in COPD from pathology to the current treatments offered. The aims of this third module in the series are:
• to assess the role of genetic, smoking and other environmental factors in COPD and emphysema;
• to review the epidemiology;
• to consider the social and healthcare impact;
• to discuss preventative measures, such as smoking cessation programmes, and European legislation.

Role of genetic factors in COPD (alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency and other factors) M. Luisetti (Pavia, Italy)
Genetic-environmental interactions in COPD – not only smoke? L. Trupin (San Francisco, United States of America)
Epidemiology, social and health-status impact P. Bakke (Bergen, Norway)
Education, smoking cessation and European legislation C. Roussos (Athens, Greece)