title: Diagnosis and management of patients with COPD in primary care.
abstract: This article discusses the diagnosis and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary care, in the light of recent updates to national guidelines. It describes the use of spirometry, differential diagnosis, treatment options such as pharmacological management, oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation and the management of exacerbations.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Education UK, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool. dave.lynes@respiratoryeduk.com
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lynes
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003663:Decision Trees; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D010343:Patient Admission; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013147:Spirometry; D014218:Triage