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Systems: Resp. WK > 14. Management of COPD > Flashcards

14. Management of COPD Flashcards

1
Q

What are main features of COPD?

A
  • airflow obstruction(chronic bronchitis) and hyperinflation (emphysema)
  • not fully reversible
  • progressive
  • repeating chest infections and inflammation cause obstruction
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2
Q

What are the 2 main symptoms of COPD which patients always present with?

A
  1. breathlessness

2. cough and recurrent chest infections

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3
Q

What causes the cough in COPD?

A

airway inflammation

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4
Q

What causes the breathlessness in COPD? (2)

A
  1. airflow obstruction (impaired gas exchange/oxygenation)

2. hyperinflated chest which pushes diaphragm down causing breathing difficulty

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5
Q

What percentage of COPD patients are smokers?

A

85-95% (very high)

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6
Q

What do “free radical” species found in tobacco do to anti-elastase (anti-protease) enzyme? What happens as a result?

A
  • Inactivates it (people with alpha-1-antitrypsin more prone to it)
  • As a result, neutrophil elastase increases and (along with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency for people who have it), can cause tissue damage
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7
Q

In emphysema, what occurs to elastase enzyme production?

A

it increases (leading to tissue damage)

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8
Q

What are some of the systemic symptoms of COPD? (5)

A
  1. loss of muscle mass (protein separation occurs; human necrosis factor)
  2. weight loss and loss of appetite
  3. cardiac disease risk increases
  4. depression/anxiety etc
  5. lacking energy (more energy put into breathing which causes extreme tiredness)
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9
Q

How many people are there diagnosed and undiagnosed with COPD in the UK?

A

diagnosed; ~ 1 million

undiagnosed: ~2 million and on the increase

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10
Q

How many people does COPD kill in the UK?

A

over 30,000

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11
Q

Will COPD be the 3rd leading cause of death by 2020?

A

Yes

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12
Q

How to diagnose a patient with COPD?

A
  1. relevant history (symptoms)
  2. look for clinical signs+examination
  3. confirmation of diagnosis and assessment
  4. other relevant tests
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13
Q

What age should you expect COPD?

A

35-40 + years

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14
Q

What are the most common signs of COPD seen in patients? (6)

A
  1. current or former smokers
  2. chronic cough
  3. exertional breathlessness
  4. sputum production
  5. frequent winter bronchitis (or other chest infections)
  6. wheeze/ chest tightness
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15
Q

Is there a diagnostic test for COPD?

A

No (tests only support the diagnosis)

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16
Q

What are 2 common tests done to confirm COPD diagnosis?

A
  1. spirometry

2. ECG

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17
Q

What is the clinical difference between age of COPD and asthma patients? (comparison)

A
  • COPD: 35+ years

- asthma: any age

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18
Q

What is the clinical difference between cough in COPD and asthma patients? (comparison)

A
  • COPD: cough is persistent and productive

- asthma: intermittent and non-productive

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19
Q

What is the clinical difference between smoking in COPD and asthma patients? (comparison)

A
  • COPD: almost invariable/almost always

- asthma: possible

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20
Q

What is the clinical difference between breathlessness in COPD and asthma patients? (comparison)

A
  • COPD: progressive and persistent

- asthma: intermittent and variable

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21
Q

What is the clinical difference between nocturnal symptoms in COPD and asthma patients?

A
  • COPD: uncommon unless in severe disease

- asthma: common

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22
Q

What is the clinical significance between family history in COPD and asthma patients?

A
  • COPD: uncommon unless family members also smoke

- asthma: common (can have a genetic connection)

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23
Q

What is the clinical significance between concomitant eczema or allergic rhinitis?

A
  • COPD: possible

- asthma: common (can have an allergic connection)

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24
Q

What are the common features of COPD on examination? (5)

A
  1. reduced chest expansion
  2. prolonged expiration/ wheeze
  3. hyperinflated chest
  4. respiratory failure
  5. may be normal in early stages
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25
Q

What 5 signs signs suggest respiratory failure?

A
  1. tachypneoa (abnormally fast breathing)
  2. cyanosis
  3. use of accessory muscles
  4. pursed lip breathing
  5. peripheral oedema
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26
Q

What happens to anterior and posterior chest dimensions in COPD patients?

A

they are bigger in relation to lateral dimensions

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27
Q

What causes peripheral oedema?

A

Right side of the heart has pressure put on it due to excessive breathing, abnormal gas exchange etc, so inadequate pumping leads to oedema.

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28
Q

Which features may be identified in COPD patient clinical history?

A

cough, breathlessness, chest infections (winter bronchitis), sputum,

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29
Q

What features may be identified in COPD patient examination?

A
  • may appear normal (if early stages)

- tachypneoa, wheeze, hyperinflated chest

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30
Q

What does spirometry reading (FEV1/FVC) <70% suggest?

A

obstructive condition

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31
Q

What does spirometry reading (FEV1/FVC) > 70% with FEV1>80% suggest?

32
Q

What does spirometry reading (FEV1/FVC)> 70% with FEV1<80%

A

restrictive condition

33
Q

What must FEV1 value be for COPD to be considered “mild”?

A

FEV1>80% predicted

34
Q

What must FEV1 value be for COPD to be considered “moderate”?

A

FEV1 50-79% predicted

35
Q

What must FEV1 value be for COPD to be considered “severe”?

A

FEV1 30-49% predicted

36
Q

What must FEV1 value be for COPD to be considered very severe?

A

FEV1 <30% predicted

37
Q

What is the RBC count in COPD patients?

A

High as bone marrow produces more RBCs during hypoxic situations

38
Q

What are the COPD baseline tests? (5)

A
  1. spirometry
  2. chest x ray
  3. ECG
  4. full blood count (anaemic/polycythaemic, eosinophilia)
  5. BMI (weight and height) +nutritional assessment
39
Q

Are prescriptions key to solving chronic medical problems?

A

No, management is key.

40
Q

Why is patient’s psychological well being important in COPD management?

A

Psychological aspect can stimulate nervous responses, increasing heart rate and breathing rate, leading to more energy being invested in breathing and making patient weaker leading to more susceptibility to further infection (constant cycle)

41
Q

Outline possible COPD complications which can arise. (8)

A
  1. Acute exacerbation COPD
  2. Pneumonia
  3. Cor Pulmonale
  4. Wasting (muscle atrophy)
  5. Polycythemia
  6. Micro-nutrient deficiency
  7. Depression
  8. Pneumothorax
42
Q

What is the main intervention to prevent disease (COPD) prevention?

A

stopping smoking (smoking cessation)

43
Q

What is the main intervention to relieve breathlessness in COPD?

44
Q

What is the main prevention for preventing exacerbation? (3)

A

inhalers, vaccines, pulmonary rehabilitation (PR)

45
Q

What is the main management of complications strategy?

A

long term oxygen therapy

46
Q

What are 5 on-pharmacological management of COPD methods?

A
  1. smoking cessation
  2. vaccinations (annual flu vaccine or pneumococcal vaccine)
  3. pulmonary rehabilitation
  4. nutritional assessment
  5. psychological support
47
Q

How many times faster does lung function decline in a smoker compared to a non-smoker?

A

3 x faster

48
Q

Can lung function be restored if a patient stops smoking at 45?

A

Lung function cannot be reversed but lung function stabilises and doesn’t fall downhill as fast as in smokers giving the patient better chances of slowing down their lung function decline.

49
Q

Where are pulmonary rehabilitation classes done and for what time period?

A

usually in primary care settings (half a day for once a day or week for around 6 weeks depending on patient’s severity)

50
Q

Why does every medical intervention needs to be evidence based?

A

To prove that the intervention is benefiting the patient to the maximum.

51
Q

What is Evidence A intervention?

A
  • most studies have been done
  • more significant statistical backing and most likely to be true
  • can be the best intervention
52
Q

What can evidence based medicine range from?

A

can range from Evidence A-D (from most/best to least/worst evidence)

53
Q

What are 3 top benefits on pharmacological management of COPD?

A
  1. relieve symptoms
  2. prevent exacerbations
  3. improve quality of life
54
Q

What are 3 groups of inhaled therapy drugs used to manage COPD?

A
  1. short acting bronchodilators
  2. long acting bronchodilators
  3. high dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and LABA
55
Q

What are the 2 short acting bronchodilators used to manage COPD?

A
  1. SABA (e.g. salbutamol) -short acting beta agonist

2. SAMA (e.g. Ipatropium) -short acting muscarininc antagonistic

56
Q

What are the 2 main long acting bronchodilators used to manage COPD?

A
  1. LAMA (long acting anti-muscarining agent e.g. umeclidinium or tioptropium)
  2. LABA ( long acting B2 agonist e.g. salmeterol)
57
Q

What are the 2 main high dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and LABA?

A
  1. Relvar (Fluticasone/vilanterol)

2. Fostair MDI

58
Q

What is the order of prescribing drugs for COPD going from mild COPD to worsening FEV1 and worsening symptoms and exacerbations. (approach to treatment)

A
  1. SABA
  2. long acting bronchodilators (LAMA OR LABA)
  3. Further long acting bronchodilators (LAMA AND LABA
  4. Triple therapy (ICS, LABA and LAMA)
59
Q

What are the cheapest two COPD management methods?

A
  • flu vaccinations

- stop smoking support with pharmacotherapy

60
Q

What are the most expensive two COPD management methods?

A
  • telehealth for chronic disease (telecommunication)

- triple therapy (ICS, LABA, LAMA)

61
Q

What must oxygen pressure fall below for Long Term Oxygen (LTOT) to be used? (in kPa)

A

PaO2<7.3kPa

62
Q

What 4 conditions can be diagnosed if PaO2 is within the range of PaO2 7.3-8kPa

A
  1. polycythaemia
  2. nocturnal hypoxia
  3. peripheral oedema
  4. pulmonary hypertension
63
Q

What is the best management for people who are “at risk” for COPD?

A

smoking cessation

64
Q

What is the best treatment option for people who are symptomatic for COPD?

A

disease management

65
Q

What is the best treatment option for people who are exacerbated for COPD?

A

pulmonary rehabilitation

66
Q

What is the best treatment option for people who are in respiratory failure?

A

other options as disease has progressed too much

67
Q

What is the main cause for exacerbations?

A

chest infections

68
Q

What are the 6 main COPD exacerbation signs?

A
  1. increasing breathlessness
  2. cough
  3. sputum volume
  4. sputum purulence (pus containing)
  5. wheezing
  6. chest tightness
69
Q

What are 4 main treatment options for managing acute exacerbating COPD? (AECOPD)

A
  1. short acting bronchodilators
  2. steroids
  3. antibiotics
  4. consider hospital admission if not well
70
Q

What 2 short acting bronchodilators are used in AECOPD?

A

-salbutamol and/or
- ipratropium
(Nebulisers if cannot use inhalers)

71
Q

What steroid is used to manage AECOPD and what is its dose and time period?

A

Prednisolone, 40mg per day for 5-7 days

72
Q

When are antibiotics used in AECOPD?

A

If there is evidence of infection (fever or increase in volume/ purulence of sputum)

73
Q

When would you consider hospital admission in AECOPD? (3)

A
  1. tachypnea
  2. low oxygen saturation (<90-92%)
  3. hypotension etc
74
Q

What investigations are required for patients admitted to hospital with AECOPD? (8)

A
  1. full blood count
  2. biochemistry and glucose
  3. theophylline concentration
  4. arterial blood gas (documenting the amount of oxygen given and by what delivery device)
  5. electrocardiograph
  6. chest x ray
  7. blood cultures in febrile patients
  8. sputum microscopy, culture and sensitivity
75
Q

What are the 4 steps for ward management of patients with AECOPD?

A
  1. oxygen- target saturation is 88-92%
  2. nebulised bronchodilators
  3. corticosteroids
  4. antibiotics (oral vs IV)
  5. assess for evidence of respiratory failure (clinical and arterial blood gas (ABG))

Systems: Resp. WK (40 decks)

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