COPD Flashcards
What is the association with blood eosinophils and COPD?
Lower blood and sputum eosinophils are associated with a greater presence of proteobacteria, notably hemophilus, increased bacterial infection and pneumonia
What are the benefits of Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors in severe to very severe COPD and history of exacerbation?
- PDE4 inibitor improves lung function and reduces moderate and severe exacerbations
- PDE4 inhibitor improves lung function and decreases exacerbation in patients who are on a fixed dose LABA-ICS combinations
Are long term glucocorticoids useful in COPD ?
No. No evidence of benefits and numerous side effects
Independent of ICS use at what blood eosinophil count is there an increased risk of pneumonia ?
Blood Eosinophil count <2%
Who is at increased risk of pneumonia on ICS ?
Current smoker
>55 years
History of prev pneumonia or exacerbation
BMI<25
Poor MRC grade
Severe airflow obstruction
Independent of ICS use , eosinophils <2% assoc w pneumonia
As per GOLD criteria what factors STRONGLY favour adding ICS to LABA?
- Hx of hospitalization for exacerbations of COPD
- > / 2 moderate exacerbations per year
- Blood eosinophils >300 cells /ul
- Hx of concomitant asthma
As per GOLD criteria what factors favour adding ICS to LABA?
1 moderate exacerbation of COPD per year (despite appropriate LABA maintenance therapy)
Blood eos 100-300 cells /ul
As per GOLD criteria what factors are AGAINST adding ICS to LABA?
- Repeated pneumonia events
- Blood eos <100 cells /ul
- History of mycobacterium infection
Implications of acute glucocorticoids ?
Reduced rate of treatment failure
Reduced rate of relapse
Improve lung function
Improve breathlessness
Hoe do PDE4 inhibitors work?
Reduce inflammation by inhibiting the breakdown of intracellula cyclic AMP
What is Roflumilast?
Roflumilast is a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor. It is an oral medication take. Once a day with no direct bronchodilator activity.
It reduces moderate and severe exacerbations requiring treatment with systemic corticosteroids in patients with :
- chronic bronchitis
- severe to very severe COPD
- hx of exacerbations
Its effects on lung functions are seen when added to LABA or LABA-ICS
The beneficial effects of Roflumilast increase in patients with prior history of hospitalisations
** NB no study directly comparing Roflumilast with ICS
What are the side effects of Roflumilast?
Diarrhoea
Nausea
Weight loss (around 2kg in trial)
Abdo pain
Sleep disturbance
Headache
Adverse effects seem to occur early in treatment and reduce over time with continued treatment
Who should you avoid Roflumilast in?
- Underweight patients
- Depressed patients (caution)
What are the prophylactic abx used in COPD?
Azithromycin 250mg / day OR Azithromycin 500mg three times a week
OR
Erythromycin 250mg BD
Over one year in patients prone to exacerbations , the above have been shown to reduce risk of exacerbations compared with usual care (no data beyond one year)
What are the therapeutic interventions proven to reduce COPD mortality ?
LABA + LAMA + ICS
Smoking Cessation
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
LTOT
NIV
LVRS (Upper lobe predominant emphysema with low exercise capacity) / Lung transplantation
What are the benefits of PR?
Pulmonary Rehabilitation improves :
- Dyspnoea
- Health Status
- Exercise tolerance
In stable patients
PR reduces hospitalisation among patients who have had a recent exacerbations (<4 weeks from prior hospitatlisation)
PR leads to a reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression
Is educations and self management helpful in COPD?
- Education alone has not been shown to be effective
- Self management intervention with communication with a health care professional improves health status and decreases hospitalisation and emergency department visits
Is integrated care programs useful in COPD?
Integrative care and telehealth have no demonstrated benefits at this time
What is pulmonary rehabilitation ?
Pulmonary rehabilitation is defined as “a comprehensive intervention based on thorough patient assessment followed by patient-tailored therapies that include, but are not limited to, exercise training, education, self-management intervention aiming at behavior change, designed to improve the physical and psychological condition of people with chronic respiratory disease and to promote the long-term adherence to health-enhancing behaviors
What is the aim of PR?
Offer to COPD patients with view to improving exercise capacity by clinically important amount as well as dyspnoea. Resistance can affect quadriceps strength. PR should improve psychological wellbeing
What are the caveats to PR referral?
If AAA >5.5cm need to review, if not fit for surgery can still attend PR and undertake moderate intensity aerobic exercise but must not include resistance
If severe locomotor dysfunction ie with PVD should not be referred
If significant cognitive impairment should not be referred
What are the MRC cut offs for PR referral ?
MRC 3-5
Or
Can be MRC 2 if functionally limited by breathlessness
(MRC 5 and housebound can be difficult as can’t routinely offer home PR)
How is PR set up?
Twice weekly sessions for 6-12 weeks, patients should attend minimum of 12 recommended
Cohort or rolling is fine
Undertake aerobic training and muscle resistance . Generic exercises which are individualised
When should patients be offered PR following discharge with exacerbation?
PR should commence within 1 month of discharge
What other resp conditions can PR be utilised for ?
Non CF Bronchiectasis
ILD
NB Asthma not routinely recommended
When can you repeat PR?
Can repeat PR if done >1 year previously but note if didn’t get benefit last time unlikely they will this time
Who should get Roflumilast?
- FEV1 <50% predicted
- 2 or more exacerbations in the last 12 months despite triple therapy
What does evidence show is the effect of Roflumilast?
Reduced rate of moderate or severe exacerbation compared with placebo
What is the most common complication following LVRS?
Persistent air leak
What is the aim of endobronchial valve insertion?
To reduce the lung volume in emphysema to achieve atelectasis of selected lung segments
It is done by delivering a catheter passed along a bronchoscope, a synthetic valve is placed in the target location and fixed to the bronchial wall. Valve is designed to prevent airflow in inspiration but allow air and mucus out during expiration
Several valves may be needed (1 or more for each segment to be treated)
Duckbill and umbrella valves ; duckbill in circulation
In the right patients what is the effect of LVRS/EBV?
- Reduction in gas trapping - improving lung function and reducing sensation of breathlessness
- Improving exercise capacity
- Improving QOL
- Prolonging survival by delaying development of resp failure and need for frequent hospitalization
What is the only intervention that modifiers the natural history of COPD?
Stopping smoking
What is the benefit for LVRS via VATS?
Improves QOL
Improves exercise capacity
Improves lung function
Of those with severe emphysema in the short term
NB hospital stay with VATs is shorter than open
What is the benefit of LVR by EBV?
Improves QOL
Improves exercise capacity
Improves lung function
*Greatest for those with heterogenous emphysema without collateral ventilation and those where lobar occlusion is complete