An overview of assessment and management in COPD.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a highly prevalent disease, which has a huge impact on both families and individual patients lives. Even though COPD is largely a preventable disease, it is increasing worldwide. Therefore, healthcare professionals working within primary care are likely to come into daily contact with patients with this condition. However, statistics tell us that there are many more patients that are undiagnosed. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of this condition and to identify the various drug therapies that are available to ensure patients are receiving optimal treatment to control their symptoms of COPD.
Barnett
Margaret
M
Estover Health Centre, Plymouth, UK. margaret.barnett@plymouth.nhs.uk
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000465:Algorithms; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists