Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common chronic disease. In contrast to previously limited know-ledge, it is now apparent that COPD is a disease process with obvious complexity and heterogeneity clinically and biologically. Herein, based on the concerning findings from several large-scale cohort studies conducted in the United States and Europe, we reviewed the progresses of COPD and put forward for some consideration in its identification, diagnosis, assessment and treatment.