title: [The revised NHG guideline 'COPD': a new approach with old limitations].
abstract: In April 2015, the Dutch College of General Practitioners (NHG) published a revised version of its guideline on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The emphasis on a thorough evaluation of complaints and symptoms, in addition to the degree of airway obstruction, is new but the old limitations encountered in the treatment of patients with COPD remain in place. Real progress can only be made once we are genuinely able to control smoking or to influence the regenerative properties of the lung.
authors.affiliation: Medisch Centrum Alkmaar, afd. Longziekten, Alkmaar.
authors.forename: Joost G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: van den Aardweg
mesh_terms: D058006:General Practice / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation