COPD: Optimizing Treatment

Authors

Nabila Ahmed-Sarwar, St. John Fisher UniversityFollow
Deirdre P. Pierce, St. John Fisher UniversityFollow
David C. Holub, University of Rochester

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-2015

Keywords

fsc2016

Abstract

A guideline update and an expanded armamentarium have many physicians wondering how best to treat patients with COPD. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) carries a high disease burden. In 2012, it was the 4th leading cause of death worldwide.1,2 In 2015, the World Health Organization updated its Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines, classifying patients with COPD based on disease burden as determined by symptoms, airflow obstruction, and exacerbation history.3 These revisions, coupled with expanded therapeutic options within established classes of medications and new combination drugs to treat COPD (TABLE 1),3-6 have led to questions about interclass differences and the best treatment regimen for particular patients.

Comments

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Publication Information

Ahmed-Sarwar, Nabila; Pierce, Deirdre P.; and Holub, David C. (2015). "COPD: Optimizing Treatment." Journal of Family Practice 64.10, 610-623.

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