Evaluation of criteria for clinical control in patients with copd-a hospital based prospective study

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs most often secondary to tobacco smoke. It is associated with concomitant chronic disease and presents with symptoms of dyspnea, cough, mucus (sputum) production, and wheeze. In Asthma the term control is well defined, however in COPD it is not the same. Patients of COPD with similar lung function tests may have different symptoms and health status Despite different pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment modalities, patients might have symptoms and exacerbations. The concept of control of COPD was introduced by Soler-Cataluna et al. It is defined as “maintenance of a situation of Low Impact over time adapted to the severity of the disease itself. As the disease is Dynamic there is a need to have criteria to determine the stability of the patient and to assess the risk of exacerbation.