Management of COPD

The goals of COPD treatment are to

• reduce long-term lung function decline
• prevent and treat exacerbations
• reduce hospitalizations and mortality
• relieve disabling dyspnoea
• improve exercise tolerance and health-related quality of life
• prevent and treat complications (1,2)

To reach these goals, an effective management plan should be initiated which should include the following components:

• assess and monitor disease
• reduce risk factors
• manage stable COPD
• manage exacerbations (2)

GOLD has defined a flow chart as to how the different actions and factors in the management of COPD interact (3). This is provided in Figure 3.2 of the GOLD 2024 report (3).

The GOLD ABE Assessment Tool is provided in Figure 2.10 of the GOLD 2024 report (3).

Reference:

1. Qaseem A et al. Diagnosis and management of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a clinical practice guideline update from the American College of Physicians, American College of Chest Physicians, American Thoracic Society, and European Respiratory Society. Ann Intern Med. 2011;155(3):179-91.
2. World Health Organization (WHO). Chronic respiratory disease. COPD management.
3. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2024. Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease