COPD Flashcards
Chronic rsp sx caused by airway abnormalities (bronchitis) and/or alveoli abnormalities (emphysema) that cause persistent, progressive airflow obstruction
COPD
2 pathophysiologic categories of COPD
Chronic bronchitis
Emphysema
COPD typically occurs in the setting of ___ ___ that emit noxious particles/gases
combustible products
cigs, environment
____ + ____ are key physiologic markers of COPD
airflow obstruction
extensive airway destruction
Small airways are narrowed by a number of factors:
Immune cells, molecules, mucus, fibrotic tissue
The pattern of pathologic change depends on the features of the individual’s underlying disease: (3)
Chronic bronchitis, emphysema, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
3 MC sx of COPD
coughing
dyspnea
sputum production
associated sx of COPD
- Weight gain
- Weight loss - has worse prognosis
- Activity limitation
- Wheezing +/- chest tightness
- Syncope
- Anxiety / depressive symptoms
- Increased respiratory rate
- Signs of heavy smoking - Yellowing of fingers / nails
risk factors of COPD
- Family history
- Smoking history - Consider age at initiation, average amount smoked per day since initiation, cessation date if applicable
- Environmental history - Secondhand smoke exposure, air pollution, occupational exposure
- History of childhood pulmonary infections, HIV, or TB
- Asthma
PE findings of mild COPD
often normal
may pick up on prolonged expiration, faint end-expiratory wheeze with forced expiration
PE findings of mod/severe COPD
Lung hyperinflation → ↑ resonance with percussion
Decreased breath sounds, wheezes
Crackles at lung bases
Distant heart sounds
Increased AP diameter
PE findings of end-stage/chronic rsp failure
- Tripod posturing
- calloused forearms, swollen bursae on extensor surface of forearms - Use of accessory muscles for breathing
- Expiring through pursed lips
- Hoover’s sign → lower intercostal interspace retraction during inspiration
- Cyanosis
- Rarely nail clubbing
presentation of chronic bronchitis vs emphysema
- Chronic Bronchitis
- Obese, stocky
- Productive cough >3 months for 2 consecutive years
- Coarse rhonchi / wheezing
- Hepatomegaly
- Increased JVP
- Peripheral edema
- complications: Cor pulmonale - emphysema
- Thin, barrel chest
- Scant cough & sputum
- Expiration with pursed lips
- Hyperresonant percussion
- Wheezing, rales
- Complications: Pneumothorax
ddx for COPD
Anemia
Heart failure
Asthma
Interstitial lung disease
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
Bronchiectasis¹
Tuberculosis
Obliterative bronchiolitis
Diffuse panbronchiolitis
when to screen for COPD? what critieria?
what is the score signifying COPD?
at least 1 of the 3 cardinal sx OR
gradual decline in activity with risk factors for COPD
CAPTURE Questionnaire
score 2-4 = COPD
Performed before and after bronchodilator administration
spirometry
how is COPD diagnosed thru spirometry
- irreversible or partially reversible airflow limitation after bronchodilator administration
- Evidence of obstruction: FVC > 80% with FEV₁/FVC < 0.7
additional testing/work-up for COPD
Pulse ox every visit
Labs - CBC, BMP, TSH, BNP/NT-proBNP, serum alpha-1 antitrypsin
CXR
Measures amount and speed of air inhaled and exhaled
PFT
Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second
FEV1
Similar to spirometry but includes analysis of intrathoracic volume
Plethysmography
when should you use Diffusing Capacity of Lungs
- In presence of moderate / severe airflow limitations (FEV₁ ≤50% predicted)
- Resting O2 ≤92%
- Exertional hypoxemia (<90%)
- Severe dyspnea (mMRC ≥2)
is DLCO necessary for routine assessment for COPD?
naurr
Great assessment for the severity of emphysema
DLCO
as DLCO decreases, what does that say about severity of disease
more severe
indications for Arterial Blood Gas
Low FEV₁ (< 40% predicted)
Low O₂ saturation on pulse ox (< 92%)
Depressed LOC
Assessment of hypercapnia in “CO₂ retainers” who are given supplemental oxygen (risk of hypercapnic respiratory failure)
Signs of right heart failure
ABG of mild COPD
normal pCO2
ABG of mod/severe COPD
worsening pO₂ and elevated pCO₂
what components does an ABG measure?
- pO₂ - oxygen pressure in arterial blood
- pCO₂ - amount of CO2 in arterial blood
- pH - acidity or alkalinity of arterial blood
- SaO₂ - oxygen saturation
- HCO₃ - bicarb
- Base excess - amount of acid or base required to restore a liter of blood to its normal pH at a PaCO2 of 40 mmHg
- Base excess increases in metabolic alkalosis and decreases (or becomes more negative) in metabolic acidosis
T/F: Imaging is required for diagnosing COPD
F
which imaging choice has a greater sensitivity in detecting disease
CT > CXR
indications for imaging in COPD
- Dyspnea/cough etiology is unclear
- R/o complicating process during acute exacerbations
- Pneumonia, pneumothorax, HF - Evaluate for comorbidities
- Lung CA, bronchiectasis, pleural disease, ILD, heart failure
CXR of chronic bronchitis vs emphysema
- Chronic Bronchitis - likely normal unless complications or comorbidities are present
- Emphysema
- Hyperinflation
- Flattened diaphragm
- Increased retrosternal air space
- Long, narrow heart shadow
3 stagings for COPD
- GOLD
- mMRC
- CAT
COPD staging is based on what 3 factors
Staging is multidimensional:
1. Airflow limitations
2. Symptom severity
3. Exacerbations
GOLD Staging for COPD
mild - FEV1 > 80%
mod - 50-80%
severe - 30-50%
very severe - <30%
which staging assess severity of breathlessness
Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC)
which staging assesses multitude of sx present
COPD Assessment Test (CAT)
> 2 moderate exacerbations or >1 leading to hospitalization lands them at what stage?
E
0-1 moderate exacerbations (not leading to hospital) lands them at what stage
A or B
A = mMRC 0-1, CAT <10
B = mMRC >2, CAT >10
goals of COPD therapy
Improve sx
Decreased number of exacerbations
Improve patient functioning and quality of life
COPD therapy goals must be achieved with both __ and __
pharm + nonpharm management
nonpharm management for COPD
- SMOKING CESSATION
- Ask every patient at every visit!
- Pharm: NRT, Bupropion, Varenicline - Behavioral counseling
- Vaccinations
- Influenza, COVID-19, PCV-20 OR PCV-13 followed by PCV-23, Tdap , Zoster in pts >50 - wt loss & nutrition
- BMI, vit. D - Regular, progressive exercise
- Oxygen therapy
- pulm rehab
indications for oxygen therapy
pO2 ≤ 55 mmHg on ABG
O2 sat ≤ 88%
pO2 55-60 + RHF or erythrocytosis