Pharmacological treatment of COPD – New evidence

Abstract

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is currently the 4th leading cause of death worldwide but is projected to be the 3rd leading cause of death by 2020. In Portugal, the estimated prevalence of COPD in the Lisbon region is 14.2%, and a large proportion of underdiagnosed disease has been detected. In 2016, a Portuguese panel of experts proposed pharmacological treatment approaches to COPD based on the evidence available at the time. However, given that the GOLD 2017 report introduced considerable changes to the 2016 version, and that new evidence has emerged regarding treatment options, these proposals need to be updated. Also, and based on several studies, the concept of Pre-GOLD patients, which has diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic implications, is introduced, along with a proposed algorithm for the identification and treatment of these patients.