National and international guidelines for COPD - The need for evidence

The introduction of guidelines for the management of asthma has led to stan dardization of management and better care of patients with the condition. M any national and international respiratory societies have developed guideli nes for COPD. The World Health Organization and the National Heart, Lung, a nd Blood Institute are jointly developing guidelines that will present evid ence-based recommendations for the management of COPD. The guidelines will discuss the definition, epidemiology, natural history, risk factors, pathol ogy, and diagnosis of COPD. There will be guidance on the management of chr onic disease and acute exacerbations, education, prevention, and socioecono mics.