Guideline for the Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): 2004 Revision COPD Guideline Working Group of the South African Thoracic Society

Objective. To revise the South African Guideline for the Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in the light of new insights into the disease and the value of new treatment approaches and drugs. New aspects considered include: • A growing awareness of the impact of COPD in South Africa, and the urgent need for prevention strategies • The role of concurrent exposures to domestic and occupational atmospheric pollution, and previous lung infections including tuberculosis • The need to consider as goals of treatment both prevention of exacerbations and improvement of quality of life (health status) of patients with COPD • The development of both long-acting beta2-agonist and anticholinergic drugs for use in COPD