The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) was established in 1997 to raise awareness of COPD and reduce its morbidity and mortality. The 2001 GOLD Workshop Report provided state-of-the-art information and recommendations for COPD diagnosis, management, and prevention. To keep the report current, a Scientific Committee reviewed clinical research from June 2000 to March 2003, resulting in a 2003 update. The update included 36 papers that influenced the report, leading to several key changes. These included the introduction of tiotropium as a long-acting anticholinergic, the revised classification of COPD severity, and updated recommendations on inhaled glucocorticosteroids, pulmonary rehabilitation duration, and home care for COPD exacerbations. The 2003 update emphasized the use of long-acting bronchodilators for moderate-to-very severe COPD and inhaled glucocorticosteroids for severe cases with frequent exacerbations. The report also recommended a minimum of 2 months for rehabilitation programs. The update process involved a rigorous review of evidence, with a focus on randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews. However, meta-analyses and systematic reviews alone were not assigned evidence levels. The 2003 update was approved by the GOLD Executive Committee and is available on the GOLD website. The update highlighted the need for ongoing revisions to ensure the report remains current and relevant. The GOLD Scientific Committee plans to revise the report every 5 years. The 2003 update included several priority issues for future revisions, such as antibiotic treatment of COPD exacerbations and pharmacological treatment adjustments. The process involved peer review, consensus building, and careful evaluation of scientific evidence to ensure the recommendations were based on the best available data.The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) was established in 1997 to raise awareness of COPD and reduce its morbidity and mortality. The 2001 GOLD Workshop Report provided state-of-the-art information and recommendations for COPD diagnosis, management, and prevention. To keep the report current, a Scientific Committee reviewed clinical research from June 2000 to March 2003, resulting in a 2003 update. The update included 36 papers that influenced the report, leading to several key changes. These included the introduction of tiotropium as a long-acting anticholinergic, the revised classification of COPD severity, and updated recommendations on inhaled glucocorticosteroids, pulmonary rehabilitation duration, and home care for COPD exacerbations. The 2003 update emphasized the use of long-acting bronchodilators for moderate-to-very severe COPD and inhaled glucocorticosteroids for severe cases with frequent exacerbations. The report also recommended a minimum of 2 months for rehabilitation programs. The update process involved a rigorous review of evidence, with a focus on randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews. However, meta-analyses and systematic reviews alone were not assigned evidence levels. The 2003 update was approved by the GOLD Executive Committee and is available on the GOLD website. The update highlighted the need for ongoing revisions to ensure the report remains current and relevant. The GOLD Scientific Committee plans to revise the report every 5 years. The 2003 update included several priority issues for future revisions, such as antibiotic treatment of COPD exacerbations and pharmacological treatment adjustments. The process involved peer review, consensus building, and careful evaluation of scientific evidence to ensure the recommendations were based on the best available data.