Treatment For COPD May Need To Start Before Birth

Poor airway function shortly after birth should be recognised as a risk factor for airflow obstruction in young adults, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may need to start in fetal life. The authors conclude that individuals born with poorer lung function continue this trend up to 22 years of age, and that further research is needed into how the lungs develop in the fetus.