Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease: The Changes Made

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD is one of the conditions that physicians frequently see in both the hospital and outpatient setting. In order to improve diagnostic and treatment outcomes, the Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of COPD, the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) was created in 2001. Every year, a new report is generated based on an analysis of published studies which attempts to improve the way physicians handle COPD. GOLD reports are considered to be essential evidence-based reference tools for the implementation of effective management plans, and represent the current best practices for the care of patients with COPD. The 2017 report greatly revised the guidelines and added a few components that changed the system of COPD diagnosis and treatment. This review article addresses those changes, explains the current guidelines, and draws attention to areas that still require improvement.

Keywords: abcd assessment tool; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd); copd exacerbation; forced expiratory volume in one second; forced vital capacity; global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease; long-acting beta-2 agonist; persistent airflow limitation; smoking; spirometry.

Figure 1. The Development of COPD

This figure shows the development of COPD. The factors shown contribute to the development of airflow limitation and eventual to clinical manifestations of COPD [2]. COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Figure 2. The Refined ABCD Assessment Tool

This figure is representative of the refined ABCD assessment tool according to GOLD report 2017 along with the other important steps needed for patient classification [2].