Resumen

PEREZ PEREZ, Roidel  y  FAJARDO PEREZ, Mario. La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica: un desafío para la atención primaria de salud. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr [online]. 2003, vol.19, n.3. ISSN 0864-2125.

A literature review was made on the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease including monographs, books, journals and databases from INFOMED, Doyma, Fisterra, Medscape and Medline. Information considered as new and important for family doctors were recorded in diskettes. This review served to arrive at the conclusions that there are millions of persons who are affected by this disease, that economic loses are skyrocketing, that only giving up smoking may stop the progressive deterioration of these patients, the use of anticholinergic drugs continues to be the most effective therapy, there are factors predisposing to secondary infections and that prompt and adequate antibiotic therapy may save these patients from acute respiratory distress.

Palabras clave : LUNG DISEASES; OBSTRUCTIVE [drug therapy]; LUNG DISEASES, OBSTRUCTIVE [prevention & control]; RISK FACTORS; SMOKING; PRIMARY HEALTH CARE.