Abstract

In 2011 new classification for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was introduced, which are not based on the extent of airflow limitation alone, but also on symptoms and risk of exacerbation. The objective of our work was to present the characteristics of COPD patients according to the GOLD 2011 categories. A cross-sectional survey was performed with the participation of 411 specialists in pneumonology or allergology all over from Poland. In the group of 2271 patients we obtained the following distribution of COPD categories: A 687 (30.3%), B 403 (17.7%), C 256 (11.3%), and D 925 (40.7%). There were very few patients with no exacerbation (1.3%). In subgroups A and B there were no such patients at all. The main reason for classification of patients into categories C and D was the number of exacerbations of COPD (66.0% and 40%, respectively). Cardiovascular comorbidities were more frequent in subgroups B and D, with more symptoms (82%) than in subgroups A and C (57%, p < 0.001). In a large group of patients, representative of the population of COPD patients in Poland, we observed an uneven distribution of patients in the GOLD 2011 categories, with 71% of patients assigned to category A or D. In our study, the main reason for classifying to category C or D was the high risk of disease exacerbation rather than the degree of FEV1 reduction, as noted in other reports.

Highlights

  • In 2011 new classification for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was introduced, which are not based on the extent of airflow limitation alone, and on symptoms and risk of exacerbation

  • A few studies have evaluated the characteristics of patients with COPD according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2011 classification in groups of patients not selected for clinical trials [9, 10]

  • In Poland, little research has been done on the epidemiology of COPD [1, 11], and so far there has been no work referring to the GOLD 2011 classification

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Summary

Introduction

In 2011 new classification for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was introduced, which are not based on the extent of airflow limitation alone, and on symptoms and risk of exacerbation. The objective of our work was to present the characteristics of COPD patients according to the GOLD 2011 categories. Since the new classification a few studies have been published with the application of the GOLD 2011 assessment system among the pre-established groups of patients [5,6,7,8]. These analyses gave new information on the distribution and characteristics of COPD patients, but originally these were clinical or epidemiological studies, and their protocols did not contain objectives, to which have been applied. The objective of our work was to present the characteristics of patients with COPD encountered in daily medical practice, taking into account the new GOLD 2011 categorisation system, and its comparison with the previous GOLD 2007 classification

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