Dear Airmando, 

As women smoke more they are also more subject to COPD:

Eur Respir J 2004; 23: 932–946

DOI: 10.1183/09031936.04.000143

Standards for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with COPD:

a summary of the ATS/ERS position paper

B.R. Celli*, W. MacNee*, and committee members

E‐mail: [email protected]

Thorax 1992;47:429-436

Interpretation of bronchodilator response in patients with obstructive airways disease

Paul L P Brand, Philip H Quanjer, Dirkje S Postma, Huib A M Kerstjens,

Gerard H Koeter, P N Richard Dekhuijzen, Henk J Sluiter, and the Dutch chronic

non-specific lung disease (CNSLD) study group

Hi Airmando,

I am not sure I understand your question. Are you asking whether we think there will be some interest in determining the cause of COPD in non-smokers? And then if there will further be interest in exploring whether the pharmacological treatments for COPD will work on these individuals as well as they do for those who are smokers?

Please clarify, as it will assist me in providing a response.

Ariel

COPD in non smokers is very relevant to occupational causes of COPD, in particular coal mining, as it is compensable in many countries..

See attached

Article Quantitative relation between emphysema and lung mineral con...

Article Contributions of Dust Exposure and Cigarette Smoking to Emph...

Article J LEIGH, A N WILES and M GLICK “Total population study of fa...

Yes Ariel  COPD in non smokers With no to very low ocupational risk that have a  peculiar phramacological response , How much interest

Will be in the scientific comunity ..?...?

a specfic phramacological reponse 

Hi Airmondo,

It seems like a very low prevalence group you are describing. I think that is going to be the main driver of interest from a pharmaceutical perspective. Low prevalence, not a curable disease = low interest