COPD: clinical significance of early diagnosis.
OBJECTIVE
To explain the differential diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and how COPD can be distinguished in patients who present with complaints of dyspnea, (shortness of breath on exertion), with the goal of improving earlier diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important to differentiate COPD from other diagnoses when adult patients present with dyspnea. There are several key diagnostic indicators for COPD, including, most notably, a history of smoking and objective lung-function measurements. COPD remains an underdiagnosed disease, chiefly in its milder and more treatable form. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD)- defined standards for COPD management consist of 4 components: (1) assess and monitor disease, (2) reduce risk factors, (3) manage stable COPD through education and nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic means, and (4) manage exacerbations.


CONCLUSIONS
Updated standards for diagnosis and treatment-targeted pharmacologic agents have provided physicians and health care workers with more specific and targeted treatment modalities for early detection and treatment of this progressive disease. Early detection and more accurate diagnosis are key in improving outcomes and altering the progression of the disease.
Leff
Richard D
RD
School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 4500 S. Lancaster Rd., Dallas, TX 75216, USA. richard.leff@ttuhsc.edu
D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors