COPD plenary

Question 1

What is COPD?

Answer 1

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Question 2

What other diseases fall under the COPD umbrella?

Answer 2

Emphysema- damage to air sacs in lungs
Chronic bronchitis- long term inflammation of the airways

Question 3

Explain COPD in more detail

Answer 3

It is a preventable and treatable disease that is characterised by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation due to alveolar abnormalities

Question 4

What are the common causes of COPD?

Answer 4

Significant exposure to noxious particles or gases

Question 5

What are the symptoms of COPD?

Answer 5

1. exertional breathlessness
2. chronic cough
3. regular sputum production
4. frequent winter bronchitis
5. wheeze

Question 6

What are the different causes of breathlessness?

Answer 6

Causes can be pulmonary, cardiac, psychological and other causes

Question 7

What are some pulmonary causes of breathlessness?

Answer 7

Asthma, COPD, Pneumonia, Pulmonary embolism, lung cancer, pleural effusion

Question 8

What are some cardiac causes of breathlessness?

Answer 8

Silent myocardial infarction, cardiac arrythmia, acute pulmonary oedema, chronic heart failure

Question 9

What are the psychological causes of breathlessness?

Answer 9

Anxiety and psychogenic breathlessness

Question 10

What are other causes of breathlessness?

Answer 10

Obesity, MND, rib fractures, lung cancer, anaemia

Question 11

What is a common drug that causes a cough?

Answer 11

Ramipril

Question 12

What drug can cause ankle swelling?

Answer 12

Amlodipine

Question 13

Can ankle swelling be seen in bad COPD?

Answer 13

Yes

Question 14

Why is ankle swelling seen in bad COPD?

Answer 14

Because it causes right heart failure

Question 15

Why would a chest X ray be helpful in diagnosing COPD?

Answer 15

COPD sometimes causes hyperinflation of the lungs which can be seen in CXR

Question 16

What does a CRP blood test help diagnose?

Answer 16

Help diagnose conditions that cause inflammation because when these levels are higher than usual it is indicative of inflammation

Question 17

Can spirometry help diagnose COPD?

Answer 17

Yes

Question 18

In what diseases is the FEV1/FVC ratio reduced?

Answer 18

Obstructive

Question 19

What should a normal persons FEV/FVC ratio be?

Answer 19

70%

Question 20

What is the mMRC Dyspnoea scale?

Answer 20

It is a scale grading a patient’s level of breathlessness

Question 21

Is flow reduced in restrictive or obstructive?

Answer 21

Obstructive?

Question 22

What are the treatments offered to help people stop smoking?

Answer 22

1. Varenicline (champix)
2. Bupropion (Zyban)
3. Nicotine replacement therapy, such as patches and gum

Question 23

How does salbutamol act?

Answer 23

B2 agonist relaxes airways smooth muscle (short acting beta agonist)

Question 24

What is tiotropium and why is it prescribed in patients with COPD?

Answer 24

It is a long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonist, so acts as a bronchodilator to open up the airways

Question 25

Should people with COPD be offered any vaccinations?

Answer 25

Yes, annual flu jab, pneumoccocal vaccination and covid

Question 26

If the symptoms of COPD worsen what other drug can be given to treat the inflammation/ infection?

Answer 26

30mg oral prednisolone for 5 days (inflammation) infection (oral antibiotics)

Question 27

What are the two examples of inhalers given for COPD?

Answer 27

Tiotropium (long acting muscarinic receptor agonist) Formoterol (long acting beta agonist)

Question 28

What is ICS?

Answer 28

inhaled corticosteroid

Question 29

What is LAMA?

Answer 29

long acting muscarinic antagonist

Question 30

What is SAMA?

Answer 30

short acting muscarinic antagonist

Question 31

What is LABA?

Answer 31

long acting beta agonist

Question 32

What is SABA?

Answer 32

short acting beta agonist

Question 33

What drugs does the fostair drug contain?

Answer 33

beclometasone and formoterol (combination inhaler ICS + LABA)

Question 34

What are the clinical features differentiating COPD and asthma?

Answer 34

a chronic productive cough is common in COPD almost all COPD is linked to smoking breathlessness is persistent

Question 35

What is pulmonary rehabilitation?

Answer 35

a treatment programme with exercise, information and advice with different healthcare professionals on how to manage COPD (lasts 6-8 weeks with 2 hour sessions each week)

Question 36

what is alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency

Answer 36

Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is a condition that raises your risk for lung and other diseases.