Key points
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the diseases with the highest morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. This guideline aims to provide guidance on individualized treatment and management of COPD so that different individual patients can benefit.
COPD is a common preventable and treatable disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation, which progresses progressively and is associated with an increased chronic inflammatory response of the airways and lungs to toxic particles or gases, with acute exacerbations and complications affecting the severity of the disease and the prognosis for the individual.
2. Inflammation of the lungs due to inhalation of cigarette smoke and other toxic particles, such as smoke from biofuels, is an important cause of COPD, with smoking being the most common risk factor for COPD worldwide. In addition, air pollution, occupational exposure, and indoor biofuel pollution are also major risk factors for COPD in many countries.
The diagnosis of COPD needs to be considered in patients with chronic cough and sputum, dyspnea, and a long history of exposure to risk factors. Pulmonary function is the main tool to confirm the diagnosis of COPD.
4. The severity of COPD is assessed based on the patient’s clinical symptoms, acute exacerbations, pulmonary function results, and the presence of comorbidities.
5. Proper medication can reduce the symptoms of COPD patients, reduce the risk of acute exacerbations and the frequency of acute exacerbations, and improve the health status and exercise tolerance of patients, thus improving the quality of life.
6. Patients with COPD who experience dyspnea while walking on level ground can benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation training and maintaining appropriate physical activity.
7, Acute exacerbation of COPD is when a patient’s respiratory symptoms worsen in a short period of time beyond the daily changes that require a change in medication regimen.
8. COPD often coexists with other diseases and these comorbidities can significantly affect the prognosis of COPD patients.
What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
COPD is not defined as a combination of chronic bronchitis and emphysema and requires the exclusion of asthma characterized by reversible airflow limitation.
The clinical manifestations of COPD include dyspnea, chronic cough, and chronic sputum. Acute exacerbations of these symptoms may occur.
Pulmonary function is the gold standard for clinical diagnosis: FEV1/FVC <0.70 after inhaled bronchodilators is considered persistent airflow limitation. < p="">
What are the causes of COPD?
The total amount of inhaled particulate matter over a lifetime increases the risk of developing COPD.
1. Smoking, including smoke from cigarettes, pipe tobacco, cigars and other types of tobacco
2. Indoor pollution from biofuel heating and cooking, which is an important risk factor for COPD in women in poor areas of developing countries
3. Prolonged and high exposure to occupational dust and chemical fumes, including vapor fumes, irritating toxic fumes, and smoke
4. Outdoor air pollution increases the accumulation of respirable particles in the lungs, but its effect on the development of COPD is small.
Second, hereditary antitrypsin alpha-1 deficiency is the most important genetic susceptibility risk factor. Finally, any cause that may affect embryonic and early childhood lung development, such as low birth weight and respiratory infections, are also potential risk factors for COPD.