Five steps to reducing the burden of COPD

Abstract

An older person with a long history of smoking, persistent dyspnoea and sputum production, who struggles to manage daily activities typifies the COPD patient. Ultimately, most COPD patients will need maintenance therapy with bronchodilators and antiinflammatory agents.1 Periodically, patients experience distressing and potentially lifethreatening exacerbations of their COPD,1 most of which are caused by infection in the already inflamed and injured lung and each exacerbation amplifies the permanent lung damage.2 About 50% of infective exacerbations are bacterial in origin.3 Managing COPD involves difficult lifestyle changes for the patient; and preventive, maintenance and curative treatments managed by the physician.