Practical Pearls from the GOLD Guidelines on COPD

By Juan Garcia, MD, FCCP; and Stephen Jenkinson, MD, FCCP

Print This | TOC | Previous | Next

GOLD Components of COPD Management

The management plan for patients who have COPD consists of four key components in the GOLD guidelines: (1) assess and monitor disease; (2) reduce risk factors; (3) manage stable COPD; and (4) manage exacerbations

Goals of management include (1) preventing disease progression, (2) relieving symptoms, (3) improving exercise tolerance, (4) improving health status, (5) preventing and treating complications, (6) preventing and treating exacerbations, and (7) reducing mortality. Side effects of various treatments are common in COPD patients because of the comorbidities they often exhibit.⁸

Pearl: Spirometric screening of the general population or smokers is not presently recommended. It is more important for the physician to ask about smoking, cough, sputum production, or breathlessness.

Pearl: Absence of a wheeze does not exclude COPD.

Print This | TOC | Previous | Next

3300 Dundee Road • Northbrook, Illinois 60062-2348 • (847) 498-1400 • (800) 343-2227
Copyright ©1999-2008 American College of Chest Physicians. All Rights Reserved.
ACCP Privacy Policy | ACCP Web Site Terms of Use