COPD

Question 1

Define COPD

Answer 1

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is common, preventable and treatable disease that is characterized by:

1. Persistent Respiratory Symptoms
2. Airlfow limitation that is due to airway and/or alveolar abnormalities

Question 2

What are the subtypes of COPD?

*3

Answer 2

1. Emphysema
2. Chronic Bronchitis
3. Chronic Obstructive Asthma

Question 3

COPD risk factors?

Answer 3

1. Age over 35 years old (esp. >45 years old)
2. Cigarette smoking and Exposure to Tobacco smoke
   
   1. Active, continuous smoking confers COPD absolute risk of 25%
   2. Tobacco use >40 pack years has LR+ 7.3
   3. Tobacco Abuse is responsible for >80% of COPD cases
   4. Women have a greater degree of lung damage and Impairment for a given exposure
      
      1. Increased hyper-responsiveness to exogenous toxins
3. Domestic or Occupational pollutants
   
   1. See Irritant-induced Asthma
   2. See Allergic Occupational Asthma
   3. Mineral Dust (e.g. Mining of coal or hard rock, Concrete manufacture, Silica)
   4. Organic Dust (e.g. Cotton, hemp, grains)
   5. Gas Fumes (e.g. heavy metals, welding, sulfur dioxide, isocyanates)
4. Recurrent respiratory infections (especially Infancy)
5. Atopic Patients
6. Family History of COPD
7. Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency
   
   1. Suspect in patients under age 45 without other risk
   2. Other protease deficiencies may also be related