Assessment and Management of Suspected Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the Primary Care Setting

摘要

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic, progressive disease process characterized by dyspnea, chronic cough, and mucus production. Despite frequent referral of these patients, COPD does not require specialty management under most conditions. This article provides primary care providers with a concise review on the diagnosis and management of COPD in the primary care setting, including pulmonary function test interpretation and indications for when specialist referral is appropriate. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.