[Assessment of drug therapy in chronic pulmonary obstructive disease]

Several national and international groups of experts have published guidelines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnosis and treatment. But little is known about standards of care in real clinical practices.

Of this study was to compare diagnosis and drug therapy in local medical practices against classical Polish Phthisiopneumonological Society standards for COPD management. Data has been collected in Pneumonology Dpt. Medical University of Gdansk from COPD patients referred between September 2001 and May 2002. One hundred and five consecutive cases have been included into study group. In local medical practices spirometry for COPD diagnosis and staging was used in only 42% of cases. In stable COPD theophilline was used as a first line bronchodilatator. During exacerbation treatment was much closer to guidelines recommendation. Large majority of patients, 87% of study group, was on combined inhaled bronchodilatators.

Spirometry usage in COPD care fell below standards recommendation. Stable COPD treatment was not satisfactory. National program of guidelines implementations should be created.