PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Juan Gispert
AU  - I-Shan Chiang
AU  - Vikki Brandi
AU  - Neil Leslie
TI  - A global survey conducted to determine frequency of exacerbations in COPD patients
DP  - 2013 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P3687
VI  - 42
IP  - Suppl 57
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P3687.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P3687.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2013 Sep 01; 42
AB  - During 2012, a global on-line survey was launched to physicians from 74 countries, who previously conducted a Quintiles study or expressed an interest in participating, to determine the different patterns of management of COPD worldwide, and to evaluate the frequency of exacerbations.Results: Response was obtained from 1622 physicians from 74 countries. Highest participation was from USA and Germany (646 and 71 responses). A total of 76% responders were affiliated with a hospitalGOLD guidelines for diagnosis and treatment version 2010 were said to be followed by 77% of the participants. COPD patients were classified in GOLD functional staging 1 to 4, in 21, 30, 30 and 16% of the cases respectively. Percentages of current and previous smoking habit were found to be 55 and 36%; 50 and 41; 42 and 50; and 34 and 60 in GOLD 1 to 4, respectively. The most common treatments in the different GOLD groups were found to be combination of short acting beta2 and short acting antimuscarinics in GOLD1 in 33% patients; long acting antimuscarinics (LAMA) as monotherapy in GOLD2 in 20% patients; inhaled corticosteroids, LAMA and long acting beta2 in 26% of GOLD3 patients and in 41% of GOLD 4 patients.View this table:Average of the % of patients suffering exacerbations requiring antibioticsView this table:Average of the % of patients suffering exacerbations requiring hospitalizationConclusions: GOLD guidelines are globally followed. Exacerbations in COPD patients are quite common, their frequency is related to functional stage classification of GOLD 1 to 4.