Symptoms of COPD
Dyspnea, cough, sputum production, wheezing
Common cause of COPD
Tobacco smoke but also by other air pollutants such as smokes from fires, cigars, pipes and marijuana
Long term exposure to the gases lead to
Emphysema and/or bronchitis
COPD is not reversible. T/F
True
Individuals with alpha 1 trypsin deficiency are at risk of developing COPD. Why?
AAT helps to protect the lungs from damage caused by inflammation
Scoring systems used for symptom assessment
- Modified British medical research council(mMRC)
- COPD Assessment test(CAT)
Higher scores shoes severe limitations
COPD assessment includes the ffg compartment
Degree of airflow limitation
Symptoms
Risk of exacerbation
Presence of comorbidities
Risk of exacerbation is
An increase in respiratory symptoms that worsen over < 14 days
Symptoms assessment and risk of exacerbation are the two primary components that drive COPD treatment. After the assessment and documentation, the patient is then assigned to a group (ABE) which determines the initial treatment warranted.
True
Smoking cessation is the only management strategy proven to slow the progression of COPD
True
Vaccines for COPD patients
Annual flu vaccine
Pneumococcal vaccine
Tdap per ACIP recommendation
Bronchodilator are the first line treatment for all patients.
SABA/LABA for as needed for all patients for symptoms relief while LABA/LAMA for regular use.
ICS is recommended in select patients with a history of exacerbations and eosinophil counts(a marker of inflammation) > 300 cells/uL
True
Other treatments not routinely used include
Roflumilast( a PDE-4) inhibitor and azithromycin . Theophylline is not recommended unless other bronchodilator are not available or affordable.
Check page 584
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