Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2020 Report (Full Report)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) represents an important public health challenge and is a major cause of chronic morbidity and mortality throughout the world. COPD is currently the fourth leading cause of death in the world but is projected to be the 3rd leading cause of death by 2030, according to the World Health Organization. Globally, the COPD burden is projected to increase in coming decades because of continued exposure to COPD risk factors and aging of the population. This guide has been developed to provide a non-biased review of the current evidence for the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients with COPD that can aid the clinician in implementing effective management programs based on local healthcare systems. Healthcare professionals can find the most up to date information on COPD diagnosis, management, evidence levels, and specific citations from the scientific literature in this document and use it to guide important treatment decisions.