Is ‘GOLD’ standard for the management of COPD in clinical practice?

Abstract

Summary: primary therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the removal of the toxic agent (in most cases, tobacco smoke). Additional therapy includes bronchodilators. Inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting bronchodilators can be used to prevent and reduce the risk of exacerbations. COPD is a systemic disease and often requires therapy of its protean-associated morbidities from depression to osteoporosis and muscle wasting. Despite pessimism from some, COPD is treatable.

Keywords

• chronic bronchitis
• COPD
• emphysema
• exacerbations
• FEV1
• formoterol
• FVC
• GOLD
• immunization
• indacaterol
• LABA
• LAMA
• LTRA
• methylxanthines
• respimat
• roflumilast
• SGRQ
• tiotropium
• TORCH
• UPLIFT