New horizons in early stage COPD--improving knowledge, detection and treatment.
Early stage COPD carries a significant healthcare burden that is currently underrecognised, underdiagnosed and undertreated. Furthermore, patients at this stage can rapidly decline to advanced disease, especially if they continue to smoke. The natural history of the disease in early stages remains largely unknown, and emerging evidence indicates that we are able to reduce lung function decline and exacerbations, and improve quality of life, in early stage COPD, mainly through smoking cessation. But new evidence from randomised clinical trials also suggests an impact of pharmacotherapy on clinical outcomes in early disease. Guidelines need to be updated to reflect this greater understanding of early stage disease, and trials need to be conducted to definitively show the benefits of intensive treatment so that we can meet the large, unmet clinical needs of this important patient group.
Respiratory Division, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium. Marcm@separ.es
Marc
M
Decramer
Marc
M
Miravitlles
David
D
Price
Miguel
M
Román-Rodríguez
Carl
C
Llor
Tobias
T
Welte
Roland
R
Buhl
Daniel
D
Dusser
Katerina
K
Samara
Nikolaus
N
Siafakas
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D013147:Spirometry
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents