Clinical Module for COPD

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

Published materials

• Summary Brochure
• Reference Card
• Patient education sheet
• Patient Brochure

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.

Additional Resources 

• American Lung Association Inhaler Training
• Smoking cessation recourses in Pennsylvania
• FDA regulated electronic cigarettes

Information current at time of publication, April 2025.

The content of this website is educational in nature and includes general recommendations only; specific clinical decisions should only be made by a treating clinician based on the individual patient’s clinical condition.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COPD. Accessed Feb 12, 2025, www.cdc.gov/cdi/indicator-definitions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease.html

2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Smoking Cessation. A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2020.

3. Stead LF, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. May 31 2013;2013(5):CD000165.

4. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 2025:1-202.

5. Ryrsø CK, et al. BMC Pulm Med. 2018;18(1):154.