COPD Flashcards
COPD definition
Common, preventable and treatable disease that is characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation that is due to airway and/or alveolar abnormalities usually caused by significant exposure to noxious particles or gases
What are the 3 most common indicators for COPD
Dyspnea, chronic cough, chronic sputum production
What are some associated considerations with dyspnea?
Persistent, progressive, worse with exercise/activity
What are some associated considerations with chronic cough?
May be intermittent and unproductive
What are some associated considerations with chronic sputum production?
Any chronic pattern of production may indicate COPD
COPD symptoms pattern
Chronic, usually continuous;worse with exercise
Asthma symptom pattern
Vary day-to-day, associated with triggers
What is the history for COPD?
Exposure to noxious particles and gases
What is the history for asthma?
Allergies and history of asthma+/- family history of asthma
What causes airway inflammation in COPD?
Neutrophils and/or eosinophils
What causes airway inflammation in asthma?
Eosinophils and/or neutrophils
What are some COPD phenotypes?
Chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma-COPD overlap, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
Chronic bronchitis
Chronic productive cough for 3 mos in each of 2 successive years when other causes of chronic cough have been excluded
Emphysema
Abnormal permanent enlargement of airspace’s distal to the terminal bronchioles
What is consistent with a diagnosis of COPD?
Any chronic pattern of sputum production may indicate COPD
What is the gold standard for COPD diagnosis?
Lung function assessment: Spirometry
What 2 main areas are tested with spirometry?
The amount of air exhaled
The speed in which air is exhaled
The amount of air exhaled
Volume
The speed in which air is exhaled
Flow
FEV1
Forced expiratory volume in1 second: volume of air expired in the 1st second of the maneuver
Volume of air spired in the 1st second of the maneuver
FEV1
FVC
Forced vital capacity: the total volume of air forcibly exhaled in one breathe
The total volume of air forcibly exhaled in one breath
FVC
FEV1/FVC ratio
The fraction of air exhaled in the 1st second relative to the total volume exhaled
An obstructive disorder is when the FEV1/FVC ratio is what?
< or equal to 70%
Mild severity is if the FEV1 is what?
> 80% predicted
Moderate severity is if the FEV1 is
> 50-80% predicted
Severe is if the FEV1 is what
> 30-50% predicted
Very severe is if the FEV1 is what
<30% predicted
What is the role of spirometry in follow up care?
Identifies rapidly declining lung function, non-pharmacological interventions, can be used to help rule out alternative diagnoses
According to the GOLD guidelines, what PFT result would be consistent with a COPD diagnosis?
FEV1/FVC <70%
What are the goals of COPD therapy?
Relieve symptoms, improve exercise tolerance, improve health status, prevent progression, prevent and treat exacerbation, reduce mortality
Mild management of COPD
Short acting bronchodilators only
Moderate management for COPD
Short acting bronchodilators PLUS Abx and/or oral corticosteroids
Management for severe COPD
Requires hospitalization or visits the ED may also be associated with respiratory failure
What is the treatment for a COPD exacerbation?
O2 and obtain an ABG, Short acting agents as a bronchodilator (or combo of beta 2 agonist and anticholinergic), oral or IV steroids, Abxs
Why is oxygen needed during an acute exacerbation?
Hypoxia, want to obtain ABG after 30-60 mins to ensure no acidosis
What type of bronchodilator treatment may be preferable during and exacerbation?
Short acting agents
Why are oral or IV steroids added for exacerbations?
Shorten recovery time, improve lung function (FEV1) and hypoxemia, reduce relapse and treatment failure
What is the mMRC or the CAT?
Evaluate the symptom burden, COPD assessment tests
What would a high symptoms burden score be for the mMRC?
Greater than a 2
What would a high symptom burden be for the CAT?
Greater than 10
What is Group A for COPD risk groups?
Less symptoms, low exacerbation risk
What is group B?
More symptoms, low exacerbation risk
What is group C?
Less symptoms, high exacerbation risk
What is group D?
More symptoms, high exacerbation risk
Which two groups have greater than 1 hospitalization?
C and D
Which two groups have a high mMRC and CAT>?
B and D
Which two groups have a high exacerbation risk?
C and D
Which two groups have less symptoms?
A and C
Which two groups have more symptoms?
B and D
What are the SABAs?
Albuterol (Proair, Proventil, Ventolin)
Levalbuterol (Xopenex)
What is a SAMA?
Ipratropium (Atrovent)