Overview
What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and how common is it in the US?
What are the signs and symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What signs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are observed in a thoracic exam?
What are the management strategies for each stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
Which drugs are used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
When is hospitalization indicated in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
How do the GOLD guidelines define chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What is the pathophysiology of emphysema in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What is the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What is the pathophysiology of chronic bronchitis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What is the role of cigarette smoking in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
How does IV drug use contribute to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
Which inflammatory processes are associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What is the worldwide prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
Is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) more common in men or women?
What is the mortality rate associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What can patients do to actively manage their chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
Presentation
What is the role of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in mild cognitive impairment (MCI)?
DDX
How is bronchiectasis differentiated from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
How is bronchiolitis obliterans distinguished from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
How is adult-onset asthma distinguished from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What are the differential diagnoses for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?
Workup
What is the defining feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
How is the formal diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) made?
Are blood-based biomarkers used in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
Why is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) underdiagnosed in its early stages?
What are the characteristics of sputum in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
How does B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) bind?
What is the role of pulse oximetry in the workup of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What is the role of ECG in the workup of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What hematocrit level in chronic hypoxemia indicates polycythemia?
Treatment
How effective is aclidinium in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
When should a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) be admitted to an ICU?
What types of medications are used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What is the role of nutrition in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What is the role of bronchodilators in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
How does glycopyrrolate work to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What long-term maintenance options are available for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What is the efficacy of tiotropium in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What is the efficacy of aclidinium in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
How is theophylline used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
How is roflumilast used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
How do endogenous opioids help patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What are the stages of smoking cessation?
What are the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, and how can they be prevented?
How is inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treated?
What is the role of azithromycin in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
How is infection treated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
How is hypoxemia treated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
How is oxygen delivered in stable hypoxemic patients?
When is hospitalization indicated for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
When is bullectomy indicated in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What are the main goals of pulmonary rehabilitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
Guidelines
What guidelines exist regarding chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What are the screening guidelines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What are the GOLD guidelines for the classification of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
What are the VA/DoD guidelines for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
Medications
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Venn diagram of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Chronic obstructive lung disease is a disorder in which subsets of patients may have dominant features of chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or asthma. The result is airflow obstruction that is not fully reversible.
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Histopathology of chronic bronchitis showing hyperplasia of mucous glands and infiltration of the airway wall with inflammatory cells.
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Histopathology of chronic bronchitis showing hyperplasia of mucous glands and infiltration of the airway wall with inflammatory cells (high-powered view).
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Gross pathology of advanced emphysema. Large bullae are present on the surface of the lung.
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Gross pathology of a patient with emphysema showing bullae on the surface.
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At high magnification, loss of alveolar walls and dilatation of airspaces in emphysema can be seen.
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Posteroanterior (PA) and lateral chest radiograph in a patient with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Hyperinflation, depressed diaphragm, increased retrosternal space, and hypovascularity of lung parenchyma are demonstrated.
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A lung with emphysema shows increased anteroposterior (AP) diameter, increased retrosternal airspace, and flattened diaphragm on lateral chest radiograph.
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A lung with emphysema shows increased anteroposterior (AP) diameter, increased retrosternal airspace, and flattened diaphragm on posteroanterior chest radiograph.
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Severe bullous disease as seen on a computed tomography (CT) scan in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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Pressure volume curve comparing lungs with emphysema, lungs with restrictive disease, and normal lungs.
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Flow volume curve of a patient with emphysema shows marked decrease in expiratory flow, hyperinflation, and air trapping (patient B) compared with a patient with restrictive lung disease, who has reduced lung volumes and preserved flow (patient A).
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Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) can be used to evaluate the prognosis in patients with emphysema. The benefit of smoking cessation is shown here because the deterioration in lung function parallels that of a nonsmoker, even in late stages of the disease. Redrawn from Fletcher C, Peato R. The natural history of chronic airflow obstruction. Br Med J 1977; 1: 1645-1648.
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Oxygen therapy via nasal cannula.
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Home supplemental oxygen.
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Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP).
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Pulmonary rehabilitation.
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pulmonary rehabilitation.
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Chest radiograph of an emphysematous patient shows hyperinflated lungs with reduced vascular markings. Pulmonary hila are prominent, suggesting some degree of pulmonary hypertension (Correa da Silva, 2001).
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Schematic representation of another sign of emphysema on the lateral chest radiograph. When the retrosternal space (defined as the space between the posterior border of the sternum and the anterior wall of the mediastinum) is larger than 2.5 cm, it is highly suggestive of overinflated lungs. This radiograph is from a patient with pectus carinatum, an important differential diagnosis to consider when this space is measured (Correa da Silva, 2001).
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Close-up image shows emphysematous bullae in the left upper lobe. Note the subpleural, thin-walled, cystlike appearance (Correa da Silva, 2001).
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A, Frontal posteroanterior (PA) chest radiograph shows no abnormality of the pulmonary vasculature, with normal intercostal spaces and a diaphragmatic dome between the 6th and 7th anterior ribs on both sides. B, Image in a patient with emphysema demonstrating reduced pulmonary vasculature resulting in hyperlucent lungs. The intercostal spaces are mildly enlarged, and the diaphragmatic domes are straightened and below the extremity of the seventh rib (Correa da Silva, 2001).
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A, Lateral radiograph of the chest shows normal pulmonary vasculature, a retrosternal space within normal limits (< 2.5 cm), and a normal angle between the diaphragm and the anterior thoracic wall. B, Lateral view of the chest shows increased pulmonary transparency, increased retrosternal space (>2.5 cm), and an angle between the thoracic wall and the diaphragm >90 degrees. Straightening of the diaphragm can be more evident in this projection than on others (Correa da Silva, 2001).
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High-resolution CT (HRCT) in a patient after viral bronchiolitis obliterans demonstrates areas of airtrapping, which is predominant in the inferior lobes and associated with bronchiectasis in the left lower lobe. Note that the decreased attenuation caused by the airtrapping can simulate emphysema (Correa da Silva, 2001).
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Pediatric high-resolution CT (HRCT) shows a hyperinflated right lung with large pulmonary bullae due to congenital lobar emphysema (Correa da Silva, 2001).
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High-resolution CT (HRCT) demonstrates areas of centriacinar emphysema. Note the low attenuation areas without walls due to destruction of the alveoli septae centrally in the acini. Red element shows the size of a normal acinus (Correa da Silva, 2001).
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High-resolution CT (HRCT) shows large bullae in both inferior lobes due to uniform enlargement and destruction of the alveoli walls causing distortion of the pulmonary architecture (Correa da Silva, 2001).
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Panacinar emphysema of the left lung in a patient with a right lung transplant. Note the red element showing the size of a normal acinus and its discrepancy with the destroyed and enlarged airspaces of the left lower lobe (Correa da Silva, 2001).
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High-resolution CT (HRCT) shows subpleural bullae consistent with paraseptal emphysema. Red mark shows the size of a normal acinus (Correa da Silva, 2001).
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High-resolution CT (HRCT) shows enlarged air-spaces or bullae adjoining pulmonary scars, consistent with paracicatricial emphysema. Red mark shows the size of a normal acinus (Correa da Silva, 2001).
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CT densitovolumetry of a nonsmoker, healthy young patient shows normal lungs. Less than 0.35% of lungs have attenuations below -950 HU (Correa da Silva, 2001).
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Expiratory CT densitovolumetry shows no areas of airtrapping (Correa da Silva, 2001).
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CT densitovolumetry in a patient with lung cancer. Three-dimensional (3D) image shows that the cancer is in the portion of the right lung that was less affected by emphysema in a patient with poor pulmonary function (Correa da Silva, 2001).
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CT densitovolumetry shows the attenuation mask. Green areas are those with attenuation below the selected threshold (here, -950 HU to evaluate emphysema), and pink areas are those with attenuations above the threshold. Area outside the patient is highlighted in green because of air (Correa da Silva, 2001).
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CT densitovolumetry demonstrates irregular distribution of the emphysema, with substantial predominance in the left lung (Correa da Silva, 2001).
Tables
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- Overview
- Presentation
- DDx
- Workup
- Treatment
- Approach Considerations
- Smoking Cessation
- Management of Inflammation
- Management of Infection
- Management of Sputum Viscosity and Secretion Clearance
- PPIs for Exacerbations and the Common Cold
- Oxygen Therapy and Hypoxemia
- Vaccination to Reduce Infections
- Alpha1-Antitrypsin Deficiency Treatment
- Inpatient Care
- Bullectomy
- Lung Volume Reduction Surgery
- Lung Transplantation
- Long-term Monitoring
- End-of-Life Care
- Show All
- Guidelines
- Medication
- Medication Summary
- Beta2-Adrenergic Agonists, Short-Acting
- Beta2-Adrenergic Agonists, Long-Acting
- Anticholinergics, Respiratory
- Xanthine Derivative
- Phosphodiesterase-4 Inhibitors
- Corticosteroids, Inhalant
- Corticosteroids, Oral
- Beta-Adrenergic Agonist and Anticholinergic Agent Combinations
- Beta2-Adrenergic Agonist and Corticosteroid Combinations
- Antibiotics
- Smoking Cessation Therapies
- Other Combinations
- Show All
- Questions & Answers
- Media Gallery
- References