Diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in older patients : Consensus statement of the Working Group on Pneumology in Older Patients.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a frequent disease from which approximately 8% of individuals aged 40 years and above suffer. The prevalence increases up to fivefold as age advances. Following an introduction including the etiology, measurement, characteristic features and classification of COPD, this article presents the consensus recommendations of the German Working Group on Pneumology in Older Patients. These include statements on the screening for frailty, dysphagia, malnutrition and cognitive impairment. The results are summarized with the final conclusion that adequate treatment of COPD can also slow the progression of cognitive decline and could potentially prevent or delay the onset of dementia.