Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease of the respiratory organs that is characterised by breathing difficulties through to shortness of breath, and can evolve to become lung emphysema (where the air sacs in the lungs (alveoli) are damaged). It is often caused by breathing in harmful substances over long periods. It mostly affects smokers. Treatment options include stopping smoking, pulmonary rehabilitation inhalers, dugs, the administration of oxygen and ultimately a lung transplant. The Swiss Atlas of Healthcare shows the frequency of COPD diagnosis during inpatient treatments. The information required for diagnosis is not available in outpatient settings.