Patient Basics: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) 2 Minute Medicine Emphysema: What Is It, Difference From COPD, and More Osmosis Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Elevated risk of developing COPD with e cigarette use: Study A new study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research found that those using e cigarettes alone were more than twice as likely to develop COPD than people who didn't use any tobacco products,