Medical management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Recent advances in the treatment of patients who have COPD include the development of long-acting bronchodilators, recognition of the benefits of ICS, and development of effective initiation and maintenance pulmonary rehabilitation programs. The focus on outcome parameters other than expiratory flow rates, such as symptoms, quality of life, exercise tolerance, and exacerbation frequency, might also allow effective development of novel disease-modifying agents.