Definition and Nomenclature of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Time for Its Revision
Bartolomé R. Celli, Leonardo M. Fabbri, Gerard J. Criner, Fernando J. Martínez, David M. Mannino, Claus Vogelmeier, María Montes de, Alberto Papi, Don D. Sin, MeiLan K. Han, Àlvar Agustí
Abstract
Attemptstodefineconceptsandthings datebacktothetimeofAristotle,around 2,400yearsago,whenheproposedthata definitionshouldstatetheessentialnature orbeingofsomething(1).However,this abstractconcept(2–4)maynottranslate welltomedicalpractice,whereprecise definitionsareneededtocommunicateto colleaguesandpatientsandtoconduct epidemiological,clinical,translational,and discoveryresearchinthepresenceofnew evidencebroughtaboutbyscientific progress.SinceAristotle’sinitial discussions,thelast24centurieshave witnessedtheappearanceandevolutionof definitionsofmanythingsthatsurround us,includingdiseases(5).Inmedicine, accurateandprecisedefinitions(nosology) andclassificationofdiseases(taxonomy) allowthinking,speaking,andwritingabout observablephenomenainan understandableandunifiedway.