Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive disease that begins many years before a diagnosis is usually made. The need for an early and confirmed diagnosis of COPD is increasingly appreciated by primary care physicians in whose hands the ability to make improvements in early diagnosis largely rests. Case-finding of patients with symptoms of lifestyle limitation is probably the most practical way to achieve early diagnosis. Evidence suggests a burden of early COPD on afflicted people and their families. Early encouragement of smoking cessation, in conjunction with management of symptoms and treating activity limitation and exacerbations by appropriate non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic management at the earliest possible stage, could positively affect the impact and progression of the disease.
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David Price has consultant arrangements with Aerocrine, Boehringer Ingelheim, Dey Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Sharpe and Dohme, Novartis, Schering-Plough and Teva. He has received grants and research support for research in respiratory disease from UK National Health Service, Aerocrine, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Sharpe and Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Schering Plough and Teva. He has spoken for Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Sharpe and Dohme, Pfizer and Teva. Daryl Freeman has no shares in pharmaceutical companies. She has received speaker's honoraria for speaking at sponsored meetings from the following companies marketing respiratory products: AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline. She has received honoraria for advisory panels with AstraZeneca, and help with research projects from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim and GlaxoSmithKline. Daryl receives funding for a clinical post from AstraZeneca & Boehringer Ingelheim, and has recently been funded to attend an international conference by Nycomed & Boehringer Ingelheim. Jennifer Cleland has received unconditional educational research grants from Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline and Boehringer Ingelheim. Alan Kaplan has worked or consulted for the following companies: AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingeleheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Frost, Novartis, Nycomed, Pfizer, Purdue, and Talecris. Frank Cerasoli is an employee of Pfizer Inc.
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Price, D., Freeman, D., Cleland, J. et al. Earlier diagnosis and earlier treatment of COPD in primary care. Prim Care Respir J 20, 15–22 (2011). https://doi.org/10.4104/pcrj.2010.00060
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4104/pcrj.2010.00060
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