Educational Series: Management of COPD – with a focus on the 2017 GOLD Strategy update

In this review:

This publication is intended as an educational resource for primary healthcare professionals managing patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It follows on from our 2016 publication discussing the management of COPD in general practice and provides an update on the latest international recommendations for the treatment of this condition. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) recently released their 2017 report on the diagnosis, management and prevention of COPD.1 This is the 4th GOLD update based on a comprehensive review of new and relevant information published on COPD from 2015 to 2016. Spirometry remains necessary for accurate diagnosis and subsequent progression. The GOLD 2017 update gives greater focus to symptoms through the use of quality of life assessment tools and the effect of symptom burden on the life of COPD patients.