Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine
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Standard for the diagnosis and care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was published from Japanese Respiratory Society in 1999. In this guideline the definition, epidemiology, risk factors, pathology, methods of diagnosis, methods of therapy and care were fully described. Especially, in this guideline, we used the thin slice CT for the diagnosis and classification of disease severity. After the publication, this guidelines were distributed to all of the JRS members(about 10,000 doctors).
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Clinical stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) have been described in the guideline by American Thoracic Society(ATS), European Respiratory Society(ERS), and Japanese Respiratory Society. Recently, the clinical stage in GOLD(Global Initiative Obstructive Lung Disease) was also published in the guideline as an international standard. Although severity or clinical stages of COPD in ATS, ERS, and JRS guidelines is determined by only % predicted FEV1.0/FVC(%FEV1.0), GOLD guideline added clinical symptoms to %FEV1.0 for determining clinical stages of COPD. ⋯ Prognosis of COPD patients shows a clear decline in proportion to that of %FEV1.0. However, pulmonary circulation disorder also affects the prognosis of COPD. Pulmonary hypertension is often found in severe COPD.
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According to the guideline presented by Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease(GOLD), the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been simplified. COPD is diagnosed when FEV1(forced expiratory volume in one second)/FVC(forced vital capacity) is less than 70% (except Stage 0), and also the severity of disease is classified by FEV1. In this article, spirometry, a screening test for COPD, is explained at first, and then further examination to understand the pathophysiology of COPD is discussed. For management and following-up of COPD, both lung function test and arterial blood gas analysis are important.