Table.

Therapy at each stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, by GOLD stage¹

	1 (mild)	2 (moderate)	3 (severe)	4 (very severe)
FEV1:FVC	<0·70	<0·70	<0·70	<0·70
FEV1	≥80% of predicted	50–80% of predicted	30–50% of predicted	<30% of predicted or <50% of predicted plus chronic respiratory failure
Treatment	Influenza vaccination and short-acting bronchodilator* when needed	Influenza vaccination, short-acting and ≥1 long-acting bronchodilator* when needed; consider respiratory rehabilitation	Influenza vaccination and short-acting and ≥1 long-acting bronchodilator* when needed, inhaled glucocorticosteroid if repeated exacerbations; consider respiratory rehabilitation	Influenza vaccination and short-acting and ≥1 long-acting bronchodilator* when needed, inhaled glucocorticosteroid if repeated exacerbations, long-term oxygen if chronic respiratory failure occurs; consider respiratory rehabilitation and surgery

GOLD=Global Initiative on Obstructive Lung Disease.

^*β₂ agonists or anticholinergics.