Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common condition, which is burdened with significant morbidity and mortality. The Global initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) international guidelines have recently proposed a new classification based not only on the degree of airflow limitation, but also on symptoms and risk of exacerbations.
An increased risk of pneumonia associated with the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) has been observed in COPD patients, thus stressing the relevance of restricting their use to recognized indications. Recent studies have demonstrated that ICS withdrawal out of these indications proved safe. The development of combined longacting bronchodilators in a single inhaler has led to more thorough investigation of these drug's additive effects. For the treatment of exacerbations, there is a trend towards reducing oral corticosteroid therapy duration, with a 5-day fixed-dose scheme currently being considered sufficient.
Keywords
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, guidelines, pneumonia, corticosteroids, withdrawal