[Management of patients with stable COPD].

Management of patients with stable COPD is consisted with education for smoking cessation, pharmacologic therapy and non-pharmacologic therapy. Smoking cessation is a basic standing point for management of COPD. Prognosis of COPD with less economical cost is improved by smoking cessation. Pharmacotherapy should be arranged according to the severity of disease. beta 2 agonists, anticholinergic agents, theophylline and a combination of one or more of these drugs are available to improve obstructive ventilatory impairment. Inhaled steroid is used for patients with asthmatic symptom and with documented spirometric response to steroid. Pulmonary rehabilitation is useful for patients with all severity to reduce symptoms and to improve quality of life. Selected patients can take beneficial effect by long-term oxygen therapy, ventilatory support and surgical treatment.