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New Perspectives in COPD Management

Bronchodilator therapy using a β2 -agonist or antimuscarinic or a combination of these medications is the cornerstone of pharmacologic treatment for individuals with COPD as it increases the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1 ) and/or improves other spirometric variables. Although bronchodilator therapy has not been shown to impact lung function decline, it has numerous other benefits, eg, reducing symptoms, improving health status, and reducing exacerbation rates. Long-acting antimuscarinic (LAMA) therapy has a greater effect on reducing exacerbation rates than long-acting β2 -agonist (LABA) therapy. Compared with monotherapy, combination LAMA/LABA therapy provides for greater improvement…

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 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease: The Changes Made

The goals of COPD management are to reduce severity and prevent exacerbation. Based on the patient’s classification, treatment will be initiated. For patients in whom symptoms persist or exacerbations continue to occur, there are escalation strategies available. Group A patients have low symptom severity and low exacerbation risk. They should be started with a single bronchodilator (beta-2 agonist), which will be either a long-acting beta-2 agonist (LABA) or short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA).

Articles of Interest

A Review of the 2019 GOLD Guidelines for COPD

There are a variety of inhalers for the treatment of COPD such as SABA, LABA, SAMA, LAMA, ICS, and combinations of these. First-line therapies are dependent upon a patient’s GOLD classification, as well as other patient-specific factors such as cost and type of inhaler.

Chronic management: stepwise therapy according to GOLD group

The ultimate goals of treatment of COPD are to prevent and control symptoms, to reduce the severity and number of exacerbations, to improve respiratory capacity for increased exercise tolerance, and to reduce mortality.

COPD exacerbations: management and hospital discharge

Appropriate management of COPD exacerbations represents an important clinical challenge. In 70% to 80% of COPD exacerbations, the precipitant factor is a respiratory tract infection, but in about a third of severe exacerbations of COPD a cause cannot be identified, which hampers proper guidance of the therapeutic strategy.

Diagnosis and Outpatient Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

All patients should be counseled about and receive preventive measures such as smoking cessation and vaccination. Treatment should be guided by the severity of lung impairment, symptoms such as dyspnea, the amount of cough and sputum production, and how often a patient experiences an exacerbation.

Management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Stopping smoking is the only measure that slows the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and smokers should be encouraged to stop at all stages of the disease. The effects of medication are limited, and need to be balanced against cost and adverse effects. Bronchodilators, given by puffer and spacer rather than by nebuliser, are effective.

Self-management for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Self-management interventions for people with COPD are associated with improvements in HRQoL, as measured with the SGRQ, and a lower probability of respiratory-related hospital admissions. No excess respiratory-related and all-cause mortality risks were observed, which strengthens the view that COPD self-management interventions are unlikely to cause harm.

To Better Treat COPD, Scientists Look to Tailored Approaches for Deadly Lung Disease

To develop novel therapies to treat specific subtypes of COPD, and potentially even to reverse some of the symptoms, scientists at UCSF are taking a precision medicine approach to the disease. They are also searching for improved biomarkers that can match treatments to the patients who will benefit from them the most.

Treating C.O.P.D. in the Elderly

Which medications work best for older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease? Doctors aren’t entirely sure: Despite the fact that C.O.P.D. is the third-leading cause of death, there is scant research on the comparative effectiveness of treatment options in seniors.

Treatment and Medications for COPD

COPD treatments include both medicines and other important therapies such as pulmonary rehabilitation, smoking/vaping cessation support and immunizations.

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NHS

There's currently no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but treatment can help slow the progression of the condition and control the symptoms.