Canadien COPD Guidlines

[larrynz]

www.hospitalnews.com:80/modules/magazines/mag.asp?ID=3&IID=100&AID=1313
Nov 2007 Issue


Canadian Thoracic Society releases new guidelines for treatment of COPD




By Dr. Paul Hernandez and Dr. Denis O'Donnell
The Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) recently released its new guidelines for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The Canadian Thoracic Society recommendations for management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - 2007 are based upon the latest evidence and provide physicians with the most up-to-date information for treating this debilitating disease.
COPD is a progressive lung disease which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. More than 714,000 Canadians have been diagnosed with COPD and there are estimated to be thousands more who have not yet been diagnosed. In 2007 alone, approximately 9,000 Canadians will die from COPD and the incidence of the disease is steadily increasing. It is predicted that by 2020 COPD will be the third leading cause of death worldwide.
Recently, the number and size of randomized clinical trials in the area of COPD have increased dramatically. Major studies like TORCH and OPTIMAL have provided a wealth of new evidence on which to base these treatment recommendations and reinforce that COPD is a treatable, preventable and under-diagnosed disease.
Two of the most significant areas addressed by the 2007 guidelines are the prevention and management of exacerbations and new algorithms to ensure patients are receiving adequate therapy appropriate to their disease severity.
Exacerbations or worsening of symptoms can be triggered by simple occurrences such as a common cold, change in weather, or allergies. They can often result in visits to the local emergency department, hospitalization and, in severe cases, even death.
It's imperative that physicians recognize the importance of exacerbations in the life of a patient with COPD. COPD is not just a nuisance disease that people live with, but a serious disease that people die from. Exacerbations in COPD patients should be considered as important as myocardial infarction in people with ischemic heart disease. Physicians need to not only prevent the first exacerbation, but work more proactively to prevent all subsequent flare ups of the disease.
New treatment algorithms outline optimal pharmacological and non-pharmacological management for COPD according to disease severity. With appropriate treatment, patients with COPD should expect to experience less shortness of breath, better exercise tolerance, fewer hospitalizations and improved quality of life.

[cheryl]

Thank you for the article Larry

[cocojax]

Good information Larry thanks..

[larrynz]

It is good news for those of you in Canada, it means there is an awareness.

[maryaz]

I was dx'd in 2002. When I was first dx'd it was hard to find anything on COPD. Slowly over a little more than a year now, it seems more and more is coming out and in all countries.

I saw this article yesterday, but didn't read it all and not time to post. I am so behind on my reading lately. I would have posted it too for here. I think anything anyone can do to help now would be good. Every little bit helps. Then you get real go-getters like Jackie.

Good posting Larry.

[LindaNY]

It's great to know there is "awareness" out there. Thanks for posting that, Larry.