Figure 1.

GOLD recommendations for the pharmacologic management of stable COPD according to the four GOLD groups of COPD, which are based on a combined assessment of symptoms and exacerbation risk.

Note: Adapted by the author from the Global Strategy for Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of COPD 2015, © Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), all rights reserved. Available from http://www.goldcopd.org.²

Abbreviations: CAT, COPD Assessment Test; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; GOLD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; ICS, inhaled corticosteroids; LABA, long-acting β₂-agonist; LAMA, long-acting muscarinic antagonist; mMRC, modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale; PDE-4i, phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor; prn, as needed; SABA, short-acting β₂-agonist; SAMA, short-acting muscarinic antagonist.