Table 1 Guidelines for COPD care

Overall guidelines for best practice for an integrated comprehensive approach to COPD care include: diagnosis of COPD confirmed with spirometry, clinical evaluation, and comprehensive management to include pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and educational interventions [4, 6].

Goals: prevent disease progression, relieve symptoms, improve exercise tolerance and health status, reduce mortality, and prevent and treat complications and exacerbations.

Four components

1. Assess and monitor disease

2. Reduce risk factors: such as tobacco use

3. Manage stable COPD: based on severity of disease, pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and health education

4. Manage exacerbations: common causes infection and air pollution require pharmacological treatment and non-invasive ventilation.