Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation due to airway and/or alveolar abnormalities. It’s common, preventable, and treatable. It is defined as a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio of < 0,70.

It affects 11,7% of the world and it’s the third leading cause of death worldwide. Prevalence is expected to rise, and it’s expected to be the leading cause of death in 15 years.

COPD has two phenotypes, chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

COPD is a chronic disease with periodic flare-ups or exacerbations, during which more intensive therapy is needed.

Etiology

Pathomechanism

The following factors are involved in the pathomechanism:

  • Airway wall inflammation
  • Fibrosis
  • Smooth muscle hypertrophy
  • Goblet cell metaplasia
  • Destruction of the alveolar walls
  • Mucus hyperproduction

Chronic bronchitis is characterised by narrowing of the airway lumen, mucus hypersecretion and inflammation. Emphysema is characterised by loss of elastic recoil, and alveolar destruction.

Classification

The GOLD classification

The mMRC scale grades COPD based on the severity of dyspnoea, from 0 (dyspnoea only on exercise) to 4 (too breathless to leave the house, or dyspnoea when doing nothing).

The CAT (COPD assessment test) score grades COPD based on the severity of all symptoms as well as the life quality. There are 8 descriptions which are graded from 0 – 5 based on how much the patient agrees with the description. A total CAT score of > 10 is considered to equal “severe symptoms”.

The mMRC grade and the CAT are used to classify the COPD patient according to the GOLD classification. The patient is given a GOLD number according to their FEV1, and a GOLD letter according to the mMRC, CAT, and number of exacerbations. GOLD 1A is the least severe overall, while GOLD 4D is the most severe.

Clinical features

Symptoms are chronic and progressive.

  • Dyspnoea
  • Cough
  • Sputum production

Patients with chronic bronchitis usually have productive cough and oedema, while patients with emphysema usually don’t have either but have more pronounced dyspnoea. Chronic bronchitis patients are usually characterised by the “blue bloater” phenotype, while emphysema patients are usually characterised by the “pink puffer” phenotype.

People with COPD may experience acute worsening of their symptoms, called exacerbations, explained later.

Diagnosis and evaluation

Spirometry is required for diagnosis, as COPD is defined as a FEV1/FVC ratio of < 0,70 after administration of a bronchodilator. A baseline spirometry is performed, after which the patient is administered a bronchodilator followed by another spirometry.

The bronchodilator test is performed to distinguish COPD from bronchial asthma. If the FEV1 improves more than 12% after bronchodilator, bronchial asthma is diagnosed.

Imaging

Imaging is not necessary for the diagnosis of COPD. In case of emphysema, chest radiography will show hyperinflation of the lungs, as evidenced by horizontal ribs, widened intercostal space, increased anterioposterior diameter (seen on the lateral view), flattened diaphragm, and increased transparency of the lung.

Differential diagnosis

Treatment

The treatment recommendations of COPD depending on the GOLD stage

The goal of the treatment is to reduce symptoms and to reduce risk of disease progression, exacerbations, and mortality. The medical treatment depends on the GOLD stage.

Many drugs are used in the treatment of COPD. This are the most frequently used:

Two or three types can be given in the same inhalator.

Non-pharmacologic therapy includes smoking cessation, long-term oxygen therapy, physical activity, pulmonary rehabilitation, and vaccination against influenza and pneumococcus. It’s important to know that the only treatments in COPD that improve the survival in COPD patients are smoking cessation and long-term oxygen therapy. Medical treatment improves symptoms and quality of life, but it does not reduce mortality.

Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) refers to the use of oxygen supplementation for more than 15 hours per day in patients with COPD who also have chronic hypoxaemia. This doubles the mean survival time. LTOT is indicated when one of the following apply:

The contraindications include smoking (explosion risk), poor compliance and adherance to therapy, or if CO2 elevation occurs during LTOT. Nowadays modern O2 concentrators are portable and so the patient is not confined to their homes during LTOT.

Complications