Statement
Statement from the Japanese Respiratory Society: Working diagnosis and initial management of COPD during the COVID-19 pandemic

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resinv.2021.03.004Get rights and content

Abstract

The Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS) has recommended spirometry for the diagnosis of respiratory diseases. It is indispensable for the confirmation of airflow obstruction by spirometry in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnosis. However, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has made it difficult for many clinics to perform spirometry as it may lead to possible aerosol infections. Thus, the diagnosis of COPD, especially in the early stage, has become difficult. To overcome this situation, JRS issued a “Flowchart of Working Diagnosis and Management of COPD during the COVID-19 Pandemic”. This flowchart may help physicians provisionally diagnose COPD patients without performing spirometry, offering them appropriate intervention even in epidemic and pandemic situations.

Keywords

COPD
COVID-19
Pandemic
Spirometry

Abbreviations

ACE2
angiotensin converting enzyme 2
ACO
asthma COPD overlap
CAT
COPD assessment test
COPD
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
COVID-19
coronavirus disease 2019
ICS
inhaled corticosteroid
JRS
Japanese Respiratory Society
LABA
long-acting β-antagonist
LAMA
long-acting muscarinic antagonist
SARS-Cov-2
severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

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