New Updated GOLD 2023 guidelines: Insights, Implications and future Directives for Clinicians

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide with three million deaths in 2019 and global burden of disease is expected to increase over the coming decades.1 In context of Nepal, COPD is the most prevalent non communicable disease (NCDs) with prevalence of 11.7% in adults.2 Despite this COPD is inadequately diagnosed and managed. Therefore, guidelines for the treatment and management of patients of COPD are published by the global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) and updated annually with specific recommendations. The 2023 update published in November 2022 contain key changes for diagnosis and treatment of COPD that are anticipated to have clinical impact for patients with COPD. Moreover, updated guideline encourage treatment to be started before patients become seriously ill. Adhering to GOLD recommendations by healthcare professional may improve outcome of patients with COPD and reduce health care resource utilization (HCRU)