COPD Flashcards
What is the definition of COPD? What are the signs of COPD?
COPD is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, characterised by persistent respiratory symptoms (e.g breathlessness, cough + sputum and airway obstruction. The airway obstruction occurs due to chronic inflammation, due to exposure to noxious particles or gases.
Sign of COPD
Wheeze
Barrel-chest
Hyper inflated lungs
Prolonged expiration
tachypnoeic
What are examples of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and what is the difference?
Chronic bronchitis - main symptom of a persistent chronic cough and sputum that has lasted over 3 months/ initial dyspnoea / obese/ blue skin
increased inflammation + excessive mucus production
Emphysema - caused due to damage to the alveoli - results in breathlessness/ dyspnoea with minimal coughing / pink skin
What is the prevalence + incidence of COPD?
4th leading cause of death worldwide
previously men had a higher incidence/ more recent studies level is equal
UK 3 million pt’s with COPD
What are the risk factors of COPD?
Smoking - leading risk factor
Asthma
Occupational exposure - asbestos/ harmful particles and toxins
Genetics - less common risk factor - COPD under 45 years old - alpha 1-antirypsin
Air pollution
What are complications of COPD?
Reduced quality of life
Respiratory failure - increased airway resistance
Chest infections (pneumonia)
Lung cancer
Muscle wasting
Pneumothorax
How do you diagnose COPD?
Diagnosis confirmed by spirometry
post bronchodilator FEV1 (% of max air breathed out in 1 sec) / FVC (forced vital capacity) - max expiration after maximum inspiration - less than 0.7 - confirmation of persistent airway obstruction
Suspect COPD in adults over 35 years old - with 1 or more RF’s (smoking/ occupation or environment)
Classification of severity - 4 stages -
1 - mild: FEV1 ≥80% predicted
2 - moderate: 50% ≤ FEV1 <80% predicted
3 - severe: 30% ≤ FEV1 <50% predicted
4 - very severe: FEV1 <30% predicted.
What are symptoms of COPD?
Breathlessness
Chronic/ recurrent cough
Regular sputum production
Frequent lower respiratory tract infection
Wheeze
What is total lung capacity?
Max volume of air in lungs after biggest inhale - 6L
What is residual volume?
1/1.2L volume of air that remains in lungs after exhalation
What is vital capacity?
Max air inhaled after max air exhaled
What is forced vital capacity?
air forcibly exhaled after max inhalation
What is FEV1?
max % of air exhaled in 1 second - normal 70-80%
What are the differences between FEV1 + FVC for obstructive and restrictive diseases?
Obstructive diseases -
FVC + FVE1 ratio is decreased less than 0.7
Total lung capacity increased - e.g barrel chested
Restrictive disease-
FVC + FVE1 ratio is normal - slight difference
Total lung capacity decreased
