Guía clínica de enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC): parte I: diagnóstico / Clinical guideline of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): part I: diagnosis

ABSTRACT

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by the presence of chronic obstructive and poorly reversible airway obstruction secondary to an abnormal inflammatoryreaction mainly against the smoke snuff. This is an entity that is often underdiagnosed and that his diagnosis and staging requires the realization of a spirometry which should show varyingdegrees of obstruction to expiratory flow. In the clinical assessment is important to establish the magnitude of smoking, as well as the intensity of the designs and its progression. If thesmoking does not disclose the bronchial obstruction must questioning about other pollutants, especially intradomiciliary with exposure to wood smoke. This first part of the guide discusses the clinical diagnostic criteria assessing the severity and criteria for referral of COPD.