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COMMENTARY

GOLD 2023 Update: Implications for Clinical Practice

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Pages 745-754 | Received 13 Jan 2023, Accepted 06 Apr 2023, Published online: 05 May 2023
 

Abstract

In 2022, over 3 million people died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the global burden of the disease is expected to increase over the coming decades. Recommendations for the treatment and management of patients with COPD are published by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, and updated annually with scientific evidence-based recommendations. The 2023 updates, published in November 2022, contain key changes to recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of COPD that are anticipated to have a significant impact on clinical practice for patients with COPD. Updates to how COPD is defined and diagnosed, including the expansion of contributing factors beyond tobacco use, have the potential to lead to the diagnosis of more patients and to allow for the implementation of early interventions for patients during early stages of the disease. Simplification of the treatment algorithms, and placement of triple therapy within these algorithms, will support clinicians in providing appropriate, timely treatment for patients with COPD with a focus on reducing the risk of future exacerbations. Finally, recognition of mortality reduction as a treatment goal in COPD supports an increase in the use of triple therapy, the only pharmacological intervention that has been demonstrated to improve survival for patients with COPD. Although further guidance and clarification are needed in some areas, such as use of blood eosinophil counts in guiding treatment decisions and implementation of treatment protocols following hospitalizations, recent updates to the GOLD recommendations will support clinicians in addressing current gaps in patient care. Clinicians should utilize these recommendations to drive the early diagnosis of patients with COPD, the identification of exacerbations, and the selection of appropriate, timely treatments for patients.

Acknowledgments

Medical writing support was provided by Clare Stretton, PhD, and Leanne Miller, PhD, of Helios Medical Communications, Macclesfield, UK, and funded by AstraZeneca.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis, and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising, or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

Diana R Tamondong-Lachica has received consultancy fees from AstraZeneca. Neil Skolnik has received speaker/consultancy fees from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Lilly, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Idorsia, Merck, Novartis, Sanofi, Sanofi Pasteur, and Teva; and research funding from AstraZeneca, Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi. John R Hurst has received speaker/consultancy fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, and Takeda. Nathaniel Marchetti has received speaker/consultancy fees from AstraZeneca; grants from CSL Behring and NIH; and research funding from AstraZeneca, Chiesi, GlaxoSmithKline, and Sanofi. Adrian Paul J Rabe is an employee of AstraZeneca. Maria Montes de Oca has received speaker fees from AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline. Bartolome R Celli has received speaker/consultancy fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Gala Therapeutics, GlaxoSmithKline, Menarini, Novartis, Pulmonx, and Sanofi-Aventis; neither he, nor any member of his family, has shares or interest in any company; and he has not received or had any relationship with money from the tobacco industry. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This article was funded by AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca provided all necessary scientific bibliography and funded medical writing support and publication charges. The authors did not receive direct funding for the writing of this article.