Familial risks for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among siblings based on hospitalisations in Sweden
BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive disabling condition, for which tobacco smoking, environmental pollution, inherited alpha-antitrypsin deficiency and their interactions are predisposing factors. We carried out a family study on COPD in order to address the role of heritable and environmental risk factors at a population level.METHODS: In a nationwide study o