Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. It affects more than 10% of people over 40 years old and is expected to become the third leading cause of death by 2030 [1–3]. In addition, the prevalence and burden of COPD are projected to increase over the coming decades due to continued exposure to COPD risk factors and aging of the population [3].
