Early history of COPD In 1679, Swiss physician Théophile Bonet referred to “voluminous lungs.” In 1769, Italian anatomist Giovanni Morgagni reported 19 cases of “turgid” lungs. In 1814, British physician Charles Badham identified chronic bronchitis as a disabling health condition and part of COPD.

When was the first case of COPD diagnosed?

The beginnings of our clinical understanding of the chronic bronchitis component of COPD can be traced to Badham (1814), who used the word catarrh to refer to the chronic cough and mucus hypersecretion that are cardinal symptoms. He described bronchiolitis and chronic bronchitis as disabling disorders (Badham 1814).

How long have we known about COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been known to mankind for over 200 year. The disease was initially recognized with the use of the stethoscope and spirometer and spirometry still remains the most effective means of identification and assessment of the course of COPD and responses to therapy.