COPD and Comorbidity Edited by Klaus F. Rabe, Jadwiga A. Wedzicha and Emiel F.M. Wouters Editor in Chief Tobias Welte Th is book is one in a series of European Respiratory Monographs. Each individual issue provides a comprehensive overview of one specifi c clini- cal area of respiratory health, communicating information about the most advanced techniques and systems required for its investigation. It provides factual and useful scientifi c detail, drawing on specifi c case studies and looking into the diagnosis and management of individual patients. Previously published titles in this series are listed at the back of this Monograph. Published by European Respiratory Society ©2013 March 2013 Print ISBN: 978-1-84984-032-3 Online ISBN: 978-1-84984-033-0 Print ISSN: 1025-448x Online ISSN: 2075-6674 Printed by Page Bros Ltd, Norwich, UK Managing Editor: Rachel White European Respiratory Society 442 Glossop Road, Sheffi eld, S10 2PX, UK Tel: 44 114 2672860 E-mail: Monograph@ersj.org.uk All material is copyright to European Respiratory Society. It may not be reproduced in any way including electronic means without the express permission of the company. Statements in the volume refl ect the views of the authors, and not necessarily those of the European Respiratory Society, editors or publishers. European Respiratory Monograph 59, March 2013