A mounting public health challenge, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently the third leading cause of death in the United States. Disabling dyspnea and repeated exacerbations can lead to frequent hospital admissions and a downward spiral of disease progression - worsening the quality of life for millions of patients with COPD worldwide.
New recommendations from the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (2017 GOLD) aim to help clinicians reverse this negative trend, drawing on a new understanding of the central role of exacerbations in disease progression. The intention is to provide a more individualized approach to treatment with regular assessment of patient symptoms and exacerbation risk.
Experts in the University of Washington’s Pulmonary and Critical Care division discuss strategies for accurate diagnosis, targeted behavioral modification including smoking cessation, and management of moderate-to-severe COPD to reduce exacerbations and improve quality of life.
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