COPD: Learn More Breathe Better

COPD Essentials For Health Professionals

  • Primary care providers have a key role in the diagnosis and management of COPD.
  • Consider diagnosis of COPD in adults with shortness of breath, with or without symptoms of cough and sputum production.
  • Risk factors other than cigarette smoking history are important. Ten to 20 percent of cases may be due to environmental and occupational exposures.
  • Pulmonary function testing is useful for determining the severity of COPD and distinguishing from asthma.
  • Therapies are effective. Proactive treatment can improve the quality of life for patients with COPD.

WHY COPD? WHY NOW?

  • While other major causes of death have been decreasing, COPD mortality has continued to rise.
  • COPD is the 3rd leading cause of death.
  • 12 million Americans are diagnosed with COPD; research shows that many do not get optimal treatment.
  • An additional 12 million Americans may have COPD and remain undiagnosed.
  • Recent advances in treatment for COPD offer real opportunities to improve your patient's quality and length of life.

RISK FACTORS

  • Look for COPD in patients who are over 40 and have:
    • Persistent or progressive dyspnea
    • Chronic cough or sputum production
    • Decline in level of activity
  • COPD is more likely if there is a history of smoking.
  • Genetic factors and environmental or occupational exposures may also play a role: as many as 1 out of 6 Americans with COPD has never smoked.

DIAGNOSIS: PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTING

  • Perform or refer for a lung function test—spirometry— to determine the severity. Spirometry with bronchodilator testing may distinguish COPD from asthma.
  • A criterion for diagnosis of COPD is a postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC<0.7.

TREATMENT

  • Aggressive management of COPD can make a difference for the patient.
  • Advances in therapies have been shown to improve survival or quality of life for COPD patients.
  • COPD patients should receive professional assistance for smoking cessation.

 

Graphic indicating the progression of severity for treating COPD (least severe to most severe):  Self-Management Education and Smoking Cessation; Bronchodilators; Inhaled Corticosteroids; Pulmonary Rehabilitation; Oxygen; Surgery.

While there is no cure, early detection and treatment of COPD can slow the disease and improve quality of life. Learn more at http://copd.nhlbi.nih.gov.

 

 
 
Twitter iconTwitterExternal link Disclaimer         Facebook iconFacebookimage of external link icon         YouTube iconYouTubeimage of external link icon