ACCP/CTS Provide Guidance on Preventing Acute COPD Exacerbations.

A collection of Practice Guidelines published in AFP is available at http:// www.aafp.org/afp/ practguide. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can affect a patient’s daily activities and quality of life, has significant morbidity and mortality, and is the third leading cause of death in the United States. It is associated with many health care expenses (e.g., office and emergency department visits, hospitalizations). Although not well understood, exacerbations cause most of the morbidity, mortality, and expenses. Few recommendations for preventive measures have been provided. The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) and Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) have released a guideline with suggestions and recommendations for preventing COPD exacerbations based on available evidence.