Chronic Core Conditions Flashcards
What % of the population is affected by asthma?
5-8%
At what age range does asthma prevalence peak?
5-15 years
What is asthma?
It is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways, characterised by recurrent episodes of dyspnoea, cough and wheeze, caused by reversible airway obstruction
What are the three factors that contribute to airway narrowing?
- Bronchial muscle contraction: triggered by various stimuli
- Mucosal swelling/inflammation
- Increased mucus production
What causes mucosal swelling and inflammation?
Mast cells and basophil degranulation resulting in the release of inflammatory mediators
What happens during an acute flair up of asthma? (2)
- Bronchospasm
2. Excessive production of secretions (plugging airways)
How can asthma be catergorised?
- Extrinsic
2. Intrinsic
What is extrinsic asthma?/what are the triggers? (9)
Definite cause found - most commonly type of atopy. Possible triggers include:
- Dust mite
- Pollen
- Animal dander and fur
- Pollution
- Cold air
- Exercise
- Smoking (including passive)
- NSAIDs
- Beta blockers (DO NOT GIVE TO ASTHMATICS)
In addition to the extrinsic triggers, what are the risk factors for developing asthma? (5)
- Inner city environment
- Family history of asthma and atopy
- Concurrent eczema/hayfever
- Maternal smoking
- High serum IgE (gene on chromosome 2 called PHF11 that controls IgE synthesis)
What are the symptoms of asthma/how might someone present? (7)
- Dyspnoea
- Wheeze
- Cough (nocturnal)
- Diurnal variation
- Chest tightness
- Disturbed sleep (severe asthma)
- Sputum production
What are the signs of asthma? (7)
- Tachypnoea
- Widespread bilateral wheeze
- Hyperinflated chest
- Hyper-resonant percussion note
- Diminished air entry
- Prolonged expiration
- Increased respiratory rate
When would someone with some of the symptoms of asthma be less likely to have a diagnosis of asthma? (6)
If they had:
- Lack of wheeze
- Normal chest examination
- Voice disturbance
- Symptoms with cold only
- Significant smoking history
- Cardiac disease
What are the differential diagnoses of asthma? (7)
- COPD (can coexist)
- Pulmonary oedema
- PE
- Bronchiectasis
- Foreign object
- Obliterative bronchiolitis
- Pneumothorax
What investigations need to be carried out in someone with suspected asthma? (5)
- Peak flow (PEFR) - recorded as the best of three forced expiratory blows from total lung capacity while standing (if possible)
- Spirometry
- CXR
- FBC
- Skin prick test (may identify allergens- don’t routinely test this)
What investigation is preferable to have before diagnosis of asthma?
Spirometry
What is the FEV1/FVC ratio expected to be for asthma?
<0.7
What defines complete control of asthma? (7)
- No daytime symptpoms/no night time awakening
- No need for rescue medication
- No asthma attacks
- No exacerbations
- No limitations of activity including exercise
- Normal lung function
- Minimal side effects from medication
When is a step up in medication indicated for people with asthma? (4)
- Using SABA 3 times a week or more
- Symptomatic three times a week or more
- Exacerbation in the last 2 years
- Waking one night a week
What is the lifestyle advice for people with asthma? (6)
- Stop smoking
- Avoid triggers (e.g. NSAIDs)
- Lose weight (if overweight)
- Wash spacer once a month in soapy water and leave to drip dry
- Monitor PEFR 2x daily
- Immunisations
What is the treatment for step 1 of asthma - so mild intermittent asthma? (adults)
- Inhaled short-acting beta agonist (SABA) 100 micrograms QDS
If the asthma is not controlled simply with a short-acting beta agonist, what is the next step, step 2, of the asthma treatment pathway? (adults)
- Add inhaled corticosteroid 200-800 micrograms per day
400 micrograms is an appropriate starting dose for more patients
If the asthma is not controlled by step 2, what is step 3 treatment? (2) adults)
- Add inhaled long-acting beta-agonist (LABA)
2. May need to increase dose of inhaled corticosteroid (to 800 micrograms)
What needs to be done once someone has started on step 3 (and even before now)? (adults)
Review the patient to see if LABA is working - if it isn’t, stop this, ensure they are on highest dose of steroid, and start other therapy e.g. leukotriene receptor antagonist
What is step 4 on the treatment pathway for asthma? (2) (adults)
- Increase corticosteroid up to 2000 micrograms per day
2. Add an extra (4th) drug e.g. leukotriene receptor antagonist or SR theophylline beta-agonist tablet.
What is the 5th and final step in the treatment of chronic asthma? (3) (adults)
- Use daily steroid tablet (in lowest dose that provides adequate control)
- Maintain high dose inhaled corticosteroid
- Refer patient to specialist care
In children, the pathway of treatment for asthma is very similar, what are the steps?
Step 1 - SABA
Step 2 - inhaled corticosteroid 200-400 micrograms
Step 3 - LABA + up dose of steroid
Step 4 - Inhaled corticosteroid up to 800 micrograms
Step 5 - Daily steroid tablet + corticosteroid 800 micrograms
Give an example of SABA? (2)
- Salbutamol
2. Terbutaline
Give an example of LABA? (2)
- Salmeterol
2. Formoterol
Which drugs do SABA/LABA interact with? (2)
- Digoxin (monitor potassium levels)
2. Corticosteroids, diuretics, theophyllines (monitor potassium levels)
Give example of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)? (4)
- Beclometasone
- Budesonide
- Ciclesonide
- Fluticasone
Which oral steroid is given most commonly in the treatment of asthma?
- Prednisolone (40-50mg OD)
Give an example of two leukotriene receptor antagonists?
- Montelukast (10mg OD)
2. Zafirlukast (20mg BD)
What are the signs/symptoms of acute asthma/near-fatal asthma? (9)
- Raised PaCO2 and/or requiring mechanical ventilation with raised inflation pressures
- PEF < 33%
- Exhaustion
- SpO2 <92%
- PaO2 <8kPa
- Hypotension
- Cyanosis
- Silent chest
- Poor respiratory effort
What is the treatment of acute/life threatening asthma? (6)
- Supplementary oxygen (aim for 94-98% sats)
- High dose inhaled beta-agonists (salbutamol/terbutaline)
- Prednisolone (40-50mg) or Parenteral hydrocortisone (400mg)
- Magnesium sulphate
- Nebulised ipratropium bromide/tiotropium
- IV aminophylline (if poor response to initial therapy)
What % of >40 year olds are affected by COPD?
10-20%
When may someone under the age of 35 develop COPD?
If they have alpha 1 anti-trypsin deficiency
Which gender is COPD most common in and why?
Males, due to the previous smoking trends
COPD is an umbrella term for which two diseases?
- Emphysema
2. Chronic bronchitis
What is emphysema?
It is the enlargement of air spaces distal to the terminal bronchioles and destruction of the alveolar walls
What is chronic bronchitis?
It is a cough with/or without sputum production for most days for 3 months in the last 2 years
How is the diagnosis of chronic bronchitis different to emphysema?
Chronic bronchitis is a clinical diagnosis, whereas emphysema is a histological diagnosis
What are the characteristics of COPD? e.g. is it reversible?
It is a progressive disorder that is not reversible.
How is airway obstruction defined with regards to FEV1:FVC?
FEV1/FVC <0.7
As COPD progresses, what happens to the hypercapnic drive to breath?
People lose their hypercapnic drive to breath and depend on the hypoxaemic drive
What three mechanisms of COPD limit airflow into the small airways?
- Loss of elasticity and alveolar attachment of airways - airways collapse during expiration
- Inflammation and scarring cause the small airways to narrow - squamous cell metaplasia
- Mucus secretions block the airways (increased number of goblet cells)
What are the risk factors for developing COPD?
- Smoking (active or passive) 90%
- Climate or air pollution
- Alpha-1-anti-trypsin deficiency - protease inhibitor for enzymes able to destroy alveolar wall
- Age-related decline in lung function
What are the symptoms of COPD? (6)
- Chronic cough
- Sputum (purulent during exacerbation, otherwise white)
- Dyspnoea
- Frequent winter bronchitis
- Exacerbated by cold weather and pollution
- Weight loss, exercise intolerance, fatigue
What are the signs of COPD? (12)
- Tachypnoea
- Use of accessory muscles
- Hyper-inflated poor expansive chest
- Hyper-resonant percussive notes
- Cor pulmonale
- Wheeze or quiet breath sounds
- Pursed lip breathing
- Cyanosis
- Cachexia
- Prolonged forced expiratory time
- CO2 flapping tremor
- No diurnal variation
What are the two phenotypes of presentation of COPD?
- Pink puffers
2. Blue bloaters
What are the symptoms/signs of ‘pink puffers’? (4)
- Increased alveolar ventilation (profound emphysema)
- Normal PaO2 and normal or low PaCO2
- Breathless (accessory muscles) but NOT cyanosed
- Progression to type 1 respiratory failure
What are the signs/symptoms of ‘blue bloaters’?
- Decreased alveolar ventilation
- Low PaO2 and high PaCO2
- Cyanosed but NOT breathless
- May develop right-sided heart failure and type 2 respiratory failure
Why should supplementary O2 be given with caution in patients with COPD?
Because they rely on the hypoxic drive to maintain respiratory effort, and therefore could cause respiratory depression
In order for a diagnosis of COPD, what are the criteria that needs to be met? (5)
- Age older than 35 years old
- Presence of a risk factor (e.g. smoking)
- Typical symptoms
- Absence of clinical features of asthma
- Post-bronchodilator spirometry
What investigations are carried out in someone with suspected COPD?
- Spirometry (gold standard- should be carried out 15-20 minutes post-inhalation of salbutamol)
- CXR
- Bloods
- ABG
- ECG
- Pulse oximetry
- Sputum culture
What would be expected on a CXR in someone with COPD? (4)
- Hyperinflation
- Flat hemi-diaphragms
- Large central pulmonary arteries
- Reduced peripheral vascular markings
What blood tests are required and why, for someone with COPD?
- FBC - to identify anaemia or secondary polycythaemia
What would an ABG should of someone with COPD?
Low PaO2 +/- hypercapnia
What is the ECG for when investigating COPD?
Assessing for cor pulmonale (RHF) signs = right atrial and ventricular hypertrophy
When taking a social history, what is important to note in someone with suspected COPD?
Whether the person is a smoker or ex-smoker etc, and calculate pack years
How is the severity of COPD measured/assessed? (3)
- The degree of airflow obstruction according to the reduction in FEV1
- The degree of breathlessness according to the Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale
- Presence of right-sided heart failure
How many stages are there in the GOLD classification of severity of COPD?
Stage 0 - Stage IV
What does stage 0 of GOLD refer to?
At risk; chronic cough and sputum production, but normal spirometry
What does stage 1 of GOLD refer to?
Mild COPD; mild airflow limitation, FEV1/FVC <0.7, FEV1 >80%
Stage 2 of GOLD?
Moderate COPD - FEV1 50-79%
Stage 3 of GOLD?
Severe COPD - FEV1 30-49%
Stage 4 of GOLD?
Very severe COPD - FEV1 <30%
What is the Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale?
It is a scale based on grades 1 through to 5, measuring the level of activity the individual is capable of
What is grade 1 of MRC dyspnoea scale?
Not troubled by breathlessness except during strenuous exercise
What is grade 3 of MRC dyspnoea scale?
Walks slower than contemporaries on the same level because of breathlessness, or has to stop for breath when walking at own pace
What is grade 5 of MRC dyspnoea scale?
Too breathless to leave the house, or breathless when dressing/undressing
What is the management of COPD?
- STOP SMOKING (or even cut down if unable to stop)
- LTOT - long-term O2 therapy; proven to improve 3yr survival in over 50% in a study
- Mucolytics
- Flu vaccinations
- Pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with MRC dyspnoea grade 3-5
What drugs are prescribed for people with COPD to help cope with breathlessness?
- SABA or SAMA (short-acting muscarinic antagonist e.g. ipratropium bromide)
- LABA or LAMA (tiotropium)
- If not controlled, consider: carbocysteine or theophylline
In an acute exacerbation of COPD, what is the treatment? (4)
- Increase dose of SABA
- Prednisolone 30mg orally OD for 7-14 days
- Oral abx (if signs of pneumonia)–> amoxicillin 500mg TDS for 5 days OR doxycycline
- Oxygen therapy is O2 sats <90%
When is LTOT indicated in someone with COPD? (5)
- FEV1 <30%
- Cyanosis; O2 sats <92%
- Polycythaemia
- Peripheral oedema
- Raised JVP
For how many hours each day should LTOT be used?
> 15 hours per day
How can hospital admissions for patients with COPD prone to exacerbations be prevented?
- Keep abx in the house in case of infection
2. Prednisolone tablets in case of increasing breathlessness
What % of people in the UK with a diagnosis of diabetes, have type 1?
10%
How many people in the UK have diabetes?
4.5% (2.9 million people)
What features/symptoms/signs suggest type 1 diabetes, rather than type 2? (5)
- Weight loss with polydipsia and polyuria
- Hyperglycaemia despite diet and medications
- Islet cell antibodies (ICAs) and anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies
- Ketosis: ketonuria on urine dipstick
- If older, ketotic and unresponsive to hypoglycaemics, consider LADA and measure above antibodies
What features/symptoms/signs suggest type 2 diabetes as opposed to type 1? (3)
- Polydipsia and polyuria
- Fatigue
- Recurrent infections e.g. thrush
What is type 1 diabetes?
It is an absolute deficiency in insulin which causes persistent hyperglycaemia.
What causes type 1 diabetes?
It is caused by destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. The most common cause of beta cell destruction is autoimmunity.
Diabetes belongs to a family of which autoimmune diseases?
HLA-associated immune mediated organ specific diseases. Genetic susceptibility is polygenic and the HLA responsible is DR3+/-DR4)
What is the demographics of patients presenting with type 1 diabetes? (2)
- Usually juvenile onset, but may occur at any age (young people)
- Latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood (LADA) is a type of T1DM with slower progression into insulin deficiency that occurs in later life and is difficult to distinguish from type 2. (rarely older people)
What is the classic triad in presentation of symptoms in type 1 diabetes?
RAPID ONSET over days of weeks with classic triad:
- Polyuria (due to the osmotic effect of glucose and ketone bodies in the urine)
- Polydypsia
- Weight loss (due to the combined effects of dehydration and catabolism)
In addition to the classic triad, what other signs/symptoms may be present in T1DM? (5)
- Hyperglycaemia (random blood glucose >11mmol/L)
- Fatigue
- Ketonuria and pear drop breath
- Infections e.g. thrush, fungal/bacterial skin infections
- Cramps and abdominal pain
What is the clinical presentation of overt DKA? (4)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Kussmauls breathing
- Ketones on breath
- Abdominal pain
What investigations need to be carried out in someone with suspected T1DM? (6)
- Fasting blood glucose (>7mmol/L)
- Random blood glucose (>11mmol/L)(4-7mmol = normal)
- Blood glucose post Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)
- Urine dipstick (postive for glucose and ketones)
- Bloods: FBC, U&Es, LFTs, lipids, HbA1c (>48mmol/L is raised)
- Check for auto-antibodies
What are the diagnostic requirements for type 1 diabetes?
- Classical symptoms + 1 raised glucose OR
- No classical symptoms + 2 raised glucose
- HbA1c > 48mmol/L but lower doesn’t exclude DM
What are the complications of type 1 DM?
- Metabolic: DKA, hypoglycaemia, dyslipidaemia
- Macrovascular: MI, stroke, peripheral vascular disease (limb ischaemia)
- Microvascular: retinopathy, nephropathy, sensory, motor and autonomic neuropathy
- Psychological: depression and anxiety
- Children and young adults: family conflict, risky behaviour, and poor adherence
- Pregnancy: pre-eclampsia, IUGR, macrosomia, congenital malformations, stillbirth
- Fungal infections and some skin conditions e.g. granuloma annular or necrobiosis diabeticorum
What is the management plan for someone with suspected T1DM?
- Immediate referral to secondary care at initial diagnosis
- Insulin therapy will be required to self-monitor their blood glucose levels with two goals:
- prevent hypos and hyperglycaemia and maintain a level of glycemic control
- prevent and treat the long-term micro and macro - vascular complications of diabetes
Which type of insulin is the only one used in the UK now?
Human insulin
What is the only route of administration of insulin?
Sub-cutaneous injections
What are the 3 different types of insulin?
- Short and ultra fast-acting
- Intermediate and long-acting
- Biphasic premixed
What is the aim of the short and ultra fast-acting insulin’s?
To have a rapid onset of action (15 minutes) and short duration of action (4 hours) - used to mimic the physiological secretion of insulin that occurs in response to the glucose absorbed from food and drink (use just after meals)
What is intermediate and long-acting insulin used to mimic?
It mimics basal insulin that is secreted continuously throughout the day. Its onset of action is approximately 2 hours and its maximum affect lasts from 4 - 12 hours, but will last up to 42 hours. Normally taken once a day, in the evening.
What is the typical insulin requirement per day?
0.3-1 unit/kg/day
Although there is the typical insulin requirement, what does this depend on? (7)
- Age
- Weight
- Stage of puberty
- Duration and phase of diabetes
- Daily routine
- Diet
- Illness
In general, a half, to two-thirds of total insulin is given to cover what? …and the remainder is to control what?
Basal needs and the remainder is to control post-prandial glycaemia
What is the main adverse effect of insulin?
Hypoglycaemia
What are the initial effects of hypoglycaemia? (5)
Adrenergic:
- Sweating
- Tachycardia
- Palpitations
- Pallor
- Hunger
What are the later effects of hypoglycaemia? (7)
Neuroglycopenic:
- Confusion
- Slurred
- Drowsiness
- Yawning
- Anxiety
- Blurred vision
- Numbness of nose, lips and fingers