Chicago—The updated 2017 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) Strategy is now available and is considered a major revision of the GOLD document since 2011. Focusing on individualized COPD management, the new strategy classifies COPD patients by symptoms and history of exacerbations only. The document continues to use the A, B, C, D system, with each category having its own treatment algorithm supporting a more tailored approach addressing patient needs. One change is that for GOLD groups B through D, a combination of a LAMA (long-acting anticholinergic) and a LABA (long-acting beta2-agonist) is suggested as central to treatment. COPD affects about 210 million people worldwide, and total deaths from COPD are projected to increase by more than 30% in the next decade. Furthermore, the lung disease is predicted to become the third leading cause of death globally by 2030.

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