In 2011, the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
(GOLD) released a consensus report, Global Strategy for the Diagnosis,
Management, and Prevention of COPD. It recommended a major revision in
the management strategy for COPD that was presented in the original 2001
document. Updated reports released in January 2013, January 2014,
January 2015, and December 2015 are based on scientific literature
published since the completion of the 2011 document but maintain the
same treatment paradigm. Assessment of COPD is based on the patient’s
level of symptoms, future risk of exacerbations, the severity of the
spirometric abnormality, and the identification of comorbidities. The
January 2015 update added an Appendix on Asthma COPD Overlap Syndrome,
material prepared jointly by the GOLD and GINA Science Committees.
The GOLD report is presented as a “strategy document” for health
care professionals to use as a tool to implement effective management
programs based on available health care systems. The quadrant management
strategy tool is designed to be used in any clinical setting; it draws
together a measure of the impact of the patient’s symptoms and an
assessment of the patient’s risk of having a serious adverse health
event in the future. Many studies have assessed the utility/relevance of
this new tool. Evidence will continue to be evaluated by the GOLD
committees and management strategy recommendations modified as required.
GOLD has been fortunate to have a network of international
distinguished health professionals from multiple disciplines. Many of
these experts have initiated investigations of the causes and prevalence
of COPD in their countries, and have developed innovative approaches
for the dissemination and implementation of the GOLD management
strategy. The GOLD initiative will continue to work with National
Leaders and other interested health care professionals to bring COPD to
the attention of governments, public health officials, health care
workers, and the general public to raise awareness of the burden of COPD
and to develop programs for early detection, prevention and approaches
to management.
Marc Decramer, MD
Chair, GOLD Board of Directors
Professor of Medicine
CEO University Hospital
University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Claus Vogelmeier, MD
Chair, GOLD Science Committee
Director, Internal Medicine Clinic
University of Giessen and Marburg,
School of Medicine
Standort Marburg Baldingerstrasse
D-35043 Marburg, Germany
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