management of COPD
Last edited 02/2021 and last reviewed 02/2021
The goals of COPD treatment are to
- reduce long-term lung function decline
- prevent and treat exacerbations
- reduce hospitalizations and mortality
- relieve disabling dyspnoea
- improve exercise tolerance and health-related quality of life
- prevent and treat complications (1,2)
To reach these goals, an effective management plan should be initiated which should include the following components:
- assess and monitor disease
- reduce risk factors
- manage stable COPD
- manage exacerbations (2)
GOLD have defined a flow chart as to how the different actions and factors in management of COPD interact (3):
© 2020, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, available from www.goldcopd.org, published in Fontana, WI, USA.
An explanation of the combined ABCD tool in GOLD (3):
© 2020, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, available from www.goldcopd.org, published in Fontana, WI, USA.
Reference:
- (1) Qaseem A et al. Diagnosis and management of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a clinical practice guideline update from the American College of Physicians, American College of Chest Physicians, American Thoracic Society, and European Respiratory Society. Ann Intern Med. 2011;155(3):179-91.
- (2) World Health Organization (WHO). Chronic respiratory disease. COPD management.
- (3) Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (2021 Report)
infective exacerbations of COPD
oxygen therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
oxygen therapy in chronic respiratory failure due to COAD
inhaled corticosteroids in COPD
referral criteria from primary care - COPD
chronic obstructive airways disease (anaesthesia fitness)
follow-up of COPD in primary care
palliative care in end-stage COPD
assessment and monitoring of COPD
NICE guidance - management of stable COPD
prophylactic antibiotic therapy in COPD
hospital or community setting for management of exacerbation of COPD