The primary inclusion criteria are self – identified racial/ethnic category as either non-Hispanic whites or African-Americans between ages of 45 and 80 years with a minimum of 10 pack-year smoking history (except non-smoking controls). Pregnant women are excluded because CT scans are part of the study protocol and represent an unacceptable risk to a fetus. Other exclusion criteria are a history of other lung disease except asthma (e.g. pulmonary fibrosis, extensive bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis), previous surgical excision of at least one lung lobe (or lung volume reduction procedure), active cancer under treatment, suspected lung cancer (large or highly suspicious lung mass), metal in the chest, recent exacerbation of COPD treated with antibiotics or steroids, recent eye surgery, MI, other cardiac hospitalization, recent chest or abdominal surgery, inability to use albuterol, multiple self-described racial categories, history of chest radiation therapy, and first or second degree relative already enrolled in the study. Subjects with recent COPD exacerbations can be enrolled one month after their exacerbation.
