Week 14: COPD

Question 1

What is COPD? (2)

Answer 1

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Progressive, irreversible airway obstruction due to airway damage (potentially caused by smoking)

Question 2

What are the signs and symptoms of COPD? (7)

Answer 2

Exertional Breathlessness
Chronic cough
Regular sputum production
Frequent winter bronchitis
Wheeze
Chest Tightness
Fatigue

Question 3

What are the potential complication for COPD? (5)

Answer 3

Cor Pulmonale
Respiratory Failure
Sleep Apnoea Syndrome
Repeated respiratory infections
Osteoporosis

Question 4

When would a diagnosis of COPD be considered? (8)

Answer 4

> 35 yrs
Smokers/ex-smokers
Have:
- Exertional breathlessness
- Chronic Cough
- Regular sputum production
- Frequent winter bronchitis
- Wheeze

Without clinical symptoms of asthma.

Question 5

What are the common clinical symptoms of asthma? (4)

Answer 5

Chronic Unproductive Cough
Variability in Breathlessness
Night-time symptoms
Significant diurnal or day-to-day variability in symptoms

Question 6

What factors contribute to diagnosis of COPD? (8)

Answer 6

Weight Loss
Effort Intolerance
Waking at Night
Ankle Swelling
Fatigue
Occupational Hazards
Chest Pain
Haemoptysis (coughing up blood)

Question 7

When would spirometry be performed? (3)

Answer 7

At diagnosis of COPD
Reconsider diagnosis
Monitor disease progression.

Question 8

What FEV1/FVC ratio value would you consider for alternative diagnosis? (2)

Answer 8

< 0.7 and doesn’t present with COPD symptoms.

Question 9

What parameters would you consider a diagnosis of COPD in younger people?

Answer 9

Presenting with COPD
FEV1/FVC > 0.7