[Chronic management of COPD--results of a questionnaire for COPD patients]

evaluation of real ambulatory treatment followed by COPD patients. Eighty COPD patients were prospectively interviewed: 1 in stage I, 11 in stage II, 36 in stage III and 32 in stage IV. They were asked what medication they use as chronic ambulatory treatment and on what duration through one year, how many periodic check-ups they make. Most used medication is: short acting beta-2-agonists (63 pts), inhaled corticosteroids (40 pts), aminophylline (37 pts), long-acting theophylline (36 pts), and fixed combinations steroid + long-acting beta-2-agonist (35 pts). Eighteen patients had chronic prednisone treatment and 12 antibiotic prophylactic treatment. Only 31 patients had an anti-flu vaccine. There are no significant differences between treatment in rural and urban patients. Most patients follow the treatment for only 6 months a year.

real ambulatory treatment in COPD is generally insufficient as duration and therapeutic principles, associating low frequency of periodic check-ups and a high frequency of exacerbations.