Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 24, 2026

Auricular Acupuncture as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Combined with Sleep Disorders
Published on: August 18, 2023
[GOLD 2026: implications for COPD care in Sweden]
Nikolaos Lazarinis1, Hamid Akbarshahi2, Anne Lindberg3
1med dr, överläkare, ME lung-/allergisjukdomar, Karolinska universitetssjukhuset, Stockholm.
Abstract:
The 2026 update of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) report introduces major changes with likely implications for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Sweden. Disease stability and disease control are defined as treatment goals for all patients, irrespective of disease severity. The document highlights underdiagnosis of COPD and places greater emphasis on early detection through active case-finding, structured follow-up of disease activity, and systematic assessment of multimorbidity. Extended risk-assessment criteria at diagnosis mean that a single moderate exacerbation is now sufficient to place a patient in GOLD group E. The treatment strategies outlined in GOLD 2026 largely align with the Swedish Medical Products Agency recommendations from 2023, but to fully implement GOLD 2026 in Swedish clinical practice, the current recommendations need to be revised in light of the new evidence.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Management
Smoking Cessation
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD: