Recommendations for Management of COPD

Highlights for primary care clinicians include spirometric classification of four stages of COPD and recommendations for introducing medications according to disease stage.

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) was launched 10 years ago — in collaboration with the NIH and the World Health Organization — to raise awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to improve prevention and treatment of COPD. GOLD recommendations for management of COPD, previously published in 2001, have now been updated.

The report includes discussions of pathogenesis, epidemiology, and prevention of COPD, but primary care clinicians may be especially interested in:

• Spirometric classification of four stages of COPD
• Recommendations for introduction of bronchodilators and inhaled steroids according to COPD stage
• Discussion of the evidence supporting or not supporting other interventions sometimes considered for COPD patients
• Recommendations for management of COPD exacerbations

In addition to the print citation provided below, this report is available at the GOLD website, both as a full executive summary and as a shorter "pocket guide."

— Allan S. Brett, MD

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine September 13, 2007

Citation(s):

Rabe KF et al. Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: GOLD executive summary. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007 Sep 15; 176:532-55.