From the Guideline to Practice: the Prevention and Treatment of COPD in Primary Care

Primary care is the mainstay of prevention and treatment of COPD. COPD patients in a stable phase are diagnosed and treated by primary care personnel. However,previous studies have reported that COPD patients do not receive standardized diagnoses and treatment in primary care. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Diseases( GOLD) was developed to increase awareness of and decreased morbidity and mortality from COPD. GOLD aims to improve the prevention and management of COPD through the concerted,worldwide efforts of people involved in all facets of health care and through provision of published guidance. Adherence to the GOLD guidelines in primary care is effective and feasible,delay the deterioration of lung function,improves quality of life,decreases socioeconomic burden,achieves optimal cost utility. This paper introduces situation of GOLD revised,and how to apply GOLD for GPs in primary care.