Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder

COPD

COPD Diagnosis, Management, and Exacerbation Prevention

The treatment objectives for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) outlined by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease are two-fold: (1) the immediate relief of symptoms and (2) the long-term management of disease (GICOPD, 2013). Patients will present in the clinic with shortness of breath, a chronic cough, or production of sputum and a complete patient history will often reveal pulmonary exposure to environmental contaminants. A COPD diagnosis is typically made when the FEV1/FVC ratio is less than 0.70 as determined by spirometry. Ratings of disease severity are based on post-bronchodilator FEV1. The patient should also be evaluated and treated for common comorbidities, such as lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, depression, motor impairment, and osteoporosis.

Long-term management of COPD focuses on the relief of symptoms and treatment of comorbidities (GICOPD, 2013). Smokers are encouraged to enter a...
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