Twenty years of changes in the disease assessment method of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease

Abstract

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) has been changing for nearly 20 years. GOLD has moved from single assessment using spirometry to a more comprehensive assessment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using spirometry, symptoms and exacerbation history. And subsequently, a new assessment system for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease separated spirometric grades from the old assessment system, and classified patients only according to their symptoms and history of exacerbation. The distribution, clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of the new subgroups were different from the old ones. In this review, we will present a brief profile of changes made to the disease assessment method of GOLD, based on the relevant existing literature.

Effect of traditional Chinese and western medicine combined with lung rehabilitation training on pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complicated with chronic cor pulmonale and evaluation of efficacy

“…Generally, this airfl ow obstruction of the respiratory tract in COPD sufferers is progressive and irreversible, gives rise to impaired lung function over time, manifests as a series of respiratory symptoms, including dyspnea, cough, sense of suppression in the chest, and sputum production (2), and chronic cor pulmonale usually occurs when it develops into late stage (3). Currently, COPD is deemed as one of the most leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world, and it will become the fi fth factor of disability and the third factor of mortality worldwide based on the data of WHO in 2020 (4)(5)(6). It deprives more than 3 million people's life all over the world every year, seriously affects the quality of life of patients, and brings a huge healthcare and economic burden to the whole world (7).…”