Advances in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: management of exacerbations

Abstract

Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are important events to people living with this condition and a common cause of emergency hospital admission. In the absence of a confirmatory biomarker, an exacerbation remains a clinical diagnosis of exclusion and clinicians must be alert to alternative diagnoses. Most exacerbations are caused by airway infection, particularly with respiratory viruses. The mainstay of exacerbation treatment is an increase in the dose and/or frequency of short-acting beta-agonists, with short-course oral corticosteroids and/or antibiotics. Although there have been no new interventions to treat exacerbations in many years, there is still much variation in care and opportunity to improve outcomes. There has been a new focus on both the management of comorbidities and the optimisation of future care to reduce the risk of further events. This review summarises advances in managing exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, focusing on hospitalised patients.

The efficacy of different training programs guided by cardiopulmonary exercise test goals for the treatment of male patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

“…As a major chronic disease on the same scale as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, airflow limitation and airway obstruction are the most important pathophysiological changes. The cause of COPD remains unknown, although it is known that genetic factors, pulmonary growth and development, asthma, infection, long-term smoking and the inhalation of occupational dust or chemicals are closely related to the occurrence and progression of the disease [16]. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary and comprehensive intervention based on evidence-based medicine for patients with symptoms and limitations in daily activities.…”

A Novel Metabolic Score for Predicting the Acute Exacerbation in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“… 3 According to the data from the World Health Organization, COPD is the third leading cause of death and the fifth disease burden globally in 2020. 4 In China, an overall morbidity of COPD is about 8.2%, suggesting an emergent need for prevention and treatment. 5 …”