The Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease (CanCOLD): New Insights for Primary Care Application

Abstract

The Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung disease (CanCOLD) study was launched ten years ago, to provide insight on the natural course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This project, unique on the world scene for its longitudinal evaluation, is based on random sampling of the population as opposed to more traditional cohorts built on convenience samples of clinical patients. This comprehensive review article has elected to extract and collate from the set of Can-COLD substudies those findings and emerging discoveries that can serve to influence clinical practice, in particular, for primary care. We are presenting findings grouped around three aspects: prevalence of COPD, diagnostic performance, and impacts of COPD. Furthermore, the main results of these studies are supplemented by key messages. From CanCOLD publications we have already learned much, with sufficient substantive data to warrant translation into our clinical practice, guidelines and health policies for the benefit of our COPD patients.