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Authors & contributors
Contents
Foreword
The COPD-X guidelines
Levels of evidence
Summary of the COPD-X guidelines
	Confirm diagnosis & assess severity
	Optimise function
	Symptom relief
	Assessment of response and continuation of bronchodilator treatment
	Optimise inhaler technique
	Surgery
	Identify and treat aggravating factors
	Hypoxemia and pulmonary hypertension
	Osteoporosis
	Improve function
	Prevent deterioration
	Develop support network
	Manage eXacerbations
Appendices
References
References reviewed but not cited

O:Optimise

O: Optimise function

Summary	Evidence level
Inhaled bronchodilators provide symptom relief in patients with COPD and may increase exercise capacity	I
Long-acting bronchodilators provide sustained relief of symptoms in moderate to severe COPD	I
Long term use of systemic glucocorticoids is not recommended	I
Inhaled glucocorticoids should be considered in patients with a documented response or those who have severe COPD with frequent exacerbations	II
Identify and treat hypoxaemia and pulmonary hypertension	I
Prevent or treat osteoporosis	I
Pulmonary rehabilitation reduces dyspnoea, anxiety and depression, improves exercise capacity and quality of life and may reduce hospitalisation	I
In selected patients, a surgical approach may be considered for symptom relief	III-2

The principal goals of therapy are to stop smoking, to optimise function through symptom relief with medications and pulmonary rehabilitation, and to prevent or treat aggravating factors and complications.

Content last updated:

March 14, 2008

Page last updated:

March 14, 2008

O: Optimise function

Summary

Evidence level