[Newly referred patients with COPD at the Central Hospital in Kristianstad. Important to use good quality indicators].

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an increasingly common lung disease with a progressive course. The disease significantly impacts patients' physical performance and quality of life. Quality indicators for a specific disease should be able to be registered continuously. At the same time, data should be easily accessible for description, follow-up and analysis of clinical practice. For COPD, such data includes smoking habits and pulmonary function. MRC dyspnoea scale, which is related to quality of life and handicap, should also be registered. If electronic patient records cannot easily import these data, they can be registered in the Patient Administration System for diagnosis registration utilizing its linked owner-defined codes.