2011 International Guidelines on Rhinitis, Asthma and COPD: Italian Update of Global Initiatives ARIA, GINA and GOLD

I would like to share with you my experience and impressions about the Congress International Guidelines on Rhinitis, Asthma and COPD Global Initiatives ARIA, GINA and GOLD, which took place in Modena, Italy at 1-3 March 2011.

The main topics of the Congress were chronic respiratory diseases and comorbidities. Comorbidities markedly affect health outcomes in COPD, asthma and allergic rhinitis.

         Leonardo M. Fabbri, world known Professor of Respiratory Diseases and President of European Respiratory Society (2008) is also President of LIBRA (Linee Guida Italiane per BPCO, Rinite e Asma). LIBRA is an Italian scientific organization working on guidelines on COPD, asthma and rhinitis that is why it was the organizer of the event.

             

1^st  Day of the Congress was dedicated to asthma and allergic rhinitis.

While his presentation Professor Jean Bousquet, (France) answered a very important question: Is a uniform definition of chronic disease severity and control possible? Thereupon Prof. Klaus F. Rabe (Germany), 2012 President of European Respiratory Society, talked about Pathophysiology of severe asthma.

There was organized a special session on present and future treatments for severe asthma and comorbidities with presentations of leaders in respiratory care - Professors Neil Barnes (UK), Eric Bateman, President of GINA Executive Committee (South Africa) and Paul M. O’Byrne (Canada).

In the evening there was a round table dedicated to the development of new treatments for asthma and COPD with very exciting presentations:

-          Giorgio W. Canonica (Italy) Unmet needs in asthma and COPD;

-           Ian Adcock (UK) Role of academic research for the development of new drugs;

-           Thierry Troosters (Belgium) Development and validation of new patient related outcomes. 

Numerous interactive sessions were hold during the Congress – teleconferences with well known specialists:

· Peter J. Sterk (Netherlands) presented Phenotyping severe asthma in adults: the u-biopred project;

· Alvar Agusti from Barcelona presented his radical new approach to the respiratory patient in his perfect lecture System medicine and COPD;

· Fernando J. Martinez presented Phenotyping severe COPD.

Prof. Lorenzo Corbetta, National Italian Leader of the GOLD with National Moldavian Leader of the GOLD, Doctor Alexandru Corlateanu discuss the success of the Year of the Lung and ponder on the future of Respiratory Decade.

2^nd Day of the Congress was dedicated to COPD.

Comorbidities such as chronic heart failure, cardiovascular disease, depression, diabetes, muscle wasting, weight loss, lung cancer, and osteoporosis can frequently be found in patients with COPD and are considered to be part of the commonly prevalent nonpulmonary sequelae of the disease. Considering that the pharmacological treatment of COPD to date is primarily symptomatic, a more comprehensive approach to comorbidities may provide an opportunity to modify the natural history of patients with COPD and to identify novel targets for treatment.

            There were 3 sessions: COPD phenotyping, importance of comorbidities for COPD phenotyping and management of COPD and comorbidities. David M. Mannino from USA presented Epidemiology of complex chronic comorbidities of COPD. Claus Vogelmeier (Germany) presented

Diagnosis and assessment of severity of the patient with COPD and chronic comorbidities.

President of GOLD Executive Committee Professor Roberto Rodríguez-Roisin (Spain) made presentation “Increased Peripheral Neutrophil Stiffness in COPD: Is it relevant?” Jorgen Vestbo (Denmark) presented COPD in patients with chronic diseases and Peter Calverley (UK) Pharmacologic management COPD in patients with chronic comorbidities

3rd Day of the Congress was dedicated to Italian Update of Global Initiatives ARIA, GINA and GOLD.

There were 3 working group sessions: chaired by Professsor Giovanni Passalacqua (ARIA), Professsor Pierluigi Paggiaro (GINA) and Professsor Lorenzo Corbetta (GOLD).

            As we discussed with Lorenzo Corbetta, all presentations will be uploaded and available in a short time.

Another result of the Congress is the meeting with Doctor Gloria Montanari from Modena University, Italy. She is one of the most active members of Year of the Lung and Respiratory Decade. We discussed the perspective of our initiative and we aim at further collaboration. 

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) works with health care professionals and public health officials to raise awareness of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and to improve prevention and treatment of this lung disease for patients around the world. Through the development of evidence-based guidelines for COPD management, and events such as the annual celebration of World COPD Day, GOLD is working to improve the lives of people with COPD in every corner of the globe.

Finally we would like to thank LIBRA and its President, Prof. L. M. Fabbri for a successful Congress and remarkable annual organization which allowed taking part in different discussions, to acquire useful information and to establish relations with international specialists.