[Treatment of COPD]

COPD treatment begins with smoking cessation and influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. Bronchodilators are indicated when dyspnea on exertion is reported (usually, FEV1 < 80% predicted). On-demand short-acting agents are chosen when dyspnea is intermittent, daily long-acting agents are administered once dyspnea occurs in daily life activities. In all cases, anticholinergics and beta2 agonists can be associated when one class is not sufficiently effective. In patients with FEV1 < 50% predicted (budesonide-formoterol) or 60% predicted (fluticasone-salmeterol), repeated exacerbations and symptoms despite maintenance bronchodilators, fixed associations are indicated. When a handicap persists on pharmacological treatment, respiratory rehabilitation centered on education and exercise training has to be proposed. Care for COPD has to integrate treatment of comorbidities such as cardio-vascular diseases, anxiety-depression, malnutrition, muscle dysfunction, osteoporosis, anemia ... Ongoing research aims at identifying new therapeutic targets, focusing on inflammation, remodeling, protease-antiprotease balance, oxidative stress, lung regeneration/repair and mucus production.