COPD Flashcards
What is the definition of COPD?
A
- common,
- preventable, and
- treatable
- disease characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation due to airway or alveolar abnormalities
- caused by significant exposure to noxious particles or gases.
What are the two major subtypes of airflow limitation in COPD?
Chronic Bronchitis
Emphysema
What are the criteria for chronic bronchitis?
daily cough with sputum production lasting for at least three months, two years in a row
What are the findings in the airways in chronic bronchitis?
In the small airways:
- inflammation
- fibrosis
- luminal
- increased airway resistance
What are the findings in the airways in emphysema?
In the parenchyma:
- alveolar destruction
- loss of alveolar attachments
- decrease of elastic recoil
What are the answers to all the questions on the exam?
I don’t know
BUT
COPD Epidemiology
- onset usually in mid-life >40 years
- symptoms slowly progressive
- usually long smoking / exposure history
Asthma epidemiology
- usually diagnosed early in life (childhood)
- symptoms vary from day-to-day
- symptoms often worse at night/early morning
- allergy, rhinitis and eczema also present
- family history of asthma
What percentage of smokers go on to develop COPD?
About 24% develop clinically significant COPD
What are some other environmental causes of COPD?
exposure to pollution from biomass fuels
expsoure to smoke from fires or second hand
What are common COPD phenotypes?
emphysema
chronic bronchitis
ACOS - Asthma/COPD overlap syndrome
emphysema interstitial fibrosis syndrome
What are some risk factors for COPD?
lower socio-economic status
infections
genotype
female gender
COPD is the ____ leading cuase of death in the world
4th
Approximately how many adults in the US are living with COPD (2011 figure)?
24 million
What symptoms and history should prompt you to consider COPD?
Symptoms (not all need to be present): dyspnea, chronic cough, sputum production
Risk factors: tobacco smoking, biomass smoke, occupation, indoor/outdoor pollution
What other conditions are associated with COPD?
depression
anemia
pulmonary hypertension
cor pulmonale
osteoporosis
impaired systemic muscle function
decreased fat-free mass
What should you do to diagnose COPD if suspected?
Spirometry/Pulmonary Function Testing
How do you determine the severity of the disease?
Assessment of:
- risk factors
- symptoms
- severity of airflow limitation with spirometry
- impact on patient’s health status
- risk of future exacerbations
What is the best single predictor of airflow obstruction?
40 pack-year smoking history
What signs on PE are suggestive of COPD?
- hyperinflation (barrel chest)
- hyperresonance on percussion
- decreased breath sounds
- wheezing on regular and forced expiration
- prolonged expiratory phase
- crackles on inspiration (sometimes)