ERJ advances: state of the art in definitions and diagnosis of COPD

With high prevalence and high burden, the condition we call chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not so much a respiratory concern as a public-health epidemic [1]. This is particularly true in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where most cases remain undiagnosed and untreated. With recent changes to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) definition of COPD [2], and publication of the Lancet Commission on COPD [1], we review the current state of the art in relation to COPD definition and diagnosis, and why remaining inconsistencies matter. Current definitions of COPD are not consistent with diagnostic criteria, contributing to confusion in clinical practice and research https://bit.ly/3IkrZqD