An audit of the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients in an outpatient setting : looking beyond the respiratory illness

Background: COPD is a major public health concern due to its associated morbidity and mortality, most of which is respiratory-related. However, a number of associated conditions exist, which independently contribute to morbidity and mortality, and therefore must be recognised and treated. The aim was to study the quality of management of outpatients with COPD, analyse whether associated comorbidities were being identified and treated, and if not, establish more effective ways of recognising missed opportunities. -- Methods: This retrospective study examined 37 out-patients with COPD seen by one respiratory firm in a Maltese tertiary centre. Out-patients were randomly selected between 2013 and 2015. The inclusion criterion was a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio of