Surface Anatomy for Clinical Needle Electromyography.

During 2012, a global on-line survey was launched to physicians from 74 countries, who previously conducted a Quintiles study or expressed an interest in participating, to determine the different patterns of management of COPD worldwide, and to evaluate the frequency of exacerbations. Results: Response was obtained from 1622 physicians from 74 countries. Highest participation was from USA and Germany (646 and 71 responses). A total of 76% responders were affiliated with a hospital GOLD guidelines for diagnosis and treatment version 2010 were said to be followed by 77% of the participants. COPD patients were classified in GOLD functional staging 1 to 4, in 21, 30, 30 and 16% of the cases respectively. Percentages of current and previous smoking habit were found to be 55 and 36%; 50 and 41; 42 and 50; and 34 and 60 in GOLD 1 to 4, respectively. The most common treatments in the different GOLD groups were found to be combination of short acting beta2 and short acting antimuscarinics in GOLD1 in 33% patients; long acting antimuscarinics (LAMA) as monotherapy in GOLD2 in 20% patients; inhaled corticosteroids, LAMA and long acting beta2 in 26% of GOLD3 patients and in 41% of GOLD 4 patients. Conclusions: GOLD guidelines are globally followed. Exacerbations in COPD patients are quite common, their frequency is related to functional stage classification of GOLD 1 to 4.