Help improve quality of life and prevent exacerbations for patients with COPD
- Encourage smoking cessation to prevent COPD
- Prescribe guideline recommended inhalers and ensure good inhaler technique
- Link patients with pulmonary rehabilitation to improve quality of life and reduce exacerbations
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects more than 16 million Americans.1 One contributing factor for developing COPD is smoking combustable tobacco products like cigarettes. Yet, 4 out of 9 patients who smoke and saw their clinician in the past year did not receive advice about quitting.2 Even brief advice from a clinician leads to increase success at quitting smoking compared to when patients try to quit alone.3 Patients who smoke should be advised to cut back or stop smoking to reduce their risk of COPD along with other known health benefits. Cutting back or quitting smoking should be discussed at every visit.
The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) releases annual guidelines to guide the evidence-based treatment of COPD.4 GOLD utilizes symptoms, risk factors and spirometry to diagnose COPD. Daily symptoms and exacerbation history in the past year describe initial treatment. Blood eosinophils describe when an inhaled corticosteroid may be needed.
Prevent exacerbations in all patients with COPD
Smoking cessation, immunizations (especially those targeting lung infections), pulmonary rehabilitation, and inhaler technique training are critical opportunities to prevent exacerbations in patients with COPD. Additionally, pulmonary rehabilitation can reduce symptoms, improve quality of life, and may decrease mortality.4,5 Inhaler technique training is a simple intervention to ensure that patients are getting the most from their recommended treatment. This is particularly critical in patients who have worsening symptoms or exacerbations despite optimal inhaler therapy.
For patients with continued symptoms and exacerbations, additional therapies may be useful, including the newer options dupilumab and ensifentrine. Patients requiring these therapies may benefit from a consult with a pulmonologist.
