Global initiative for chronic obstructive lung diseases (GOLD): time to act

Abstract

In January 1997, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experts from several countries met in Brussels, Belgium to explore the development of a Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). Representatives of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, USA (NHLBI) and of the World Health Organization (WHO) attended. Participants agreed that the project was timely and important, and recommended the establishment of a panel with expertize on a wide variety of COPD-related topics to prepare an evidence-based document on diagnosis, management, and prevention of COPD as a tool for GOLD. From 1998–2000, the panel members met several times to prepare the document (see further). In 2001, the GOLD initiative was firmly launched in collaboration with NHLBI and WHO. The project was, and continues to be, supported by unrestricted educational grants from a multitude of pharmaceutical companies.The goals of GOLD are to increase awareness of COPD and decrease morbidity and mortality from this disease. GOLD aims to improve prevention and management of COPD through a concerted worldwide effort of people involved in all facets of healthcare and healthcare policy, and to encourage …