Know Your Blow
The classical symptoms of patient suspected to have COPD
What are Breathlessnes, Cough, Recurrent chest infections, Sputum production, Wheezing
This outpatient intervention often led by allied health improves exercise capacity, symptoms, and reduces hospitalisations in stable COPD and recommended in post-exacerbation.
What is pulmonary rehabilitation?
This LAMA administered when a patient has mild control of their COPD.
What is tiotropium (Spiriva, Braltus), glycopyrronium (Seebri), aclidinium (Bretaris), umeclidinium (Incruse) ?
A name of one SABA and one SAMA used during COPD exacerbations.
What are salbutamol and ipratropium?
This therapy improves survival in patients with chronic hypoxaemia (PaO2 < 55 mmHg or < 60 mmHg withcomplications).
What is long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT)?
A post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio of less than this value is diagnostic for COPD.
What is 0.7?
This in home strategy can alleviate dyspnoea by reducing ventilatory load.
What are breathlessness recovery positions or fan therapy?
This dual bronchodilator delivered combines a LABA and a LAMA.
What is olodaterol + tiotropium (Spiolto), vilanterol+umeclidinium (Anoro), indacaterol+glycopyrronium (Ultibro), formoterol+aclidinium(Brimica)?
This systemic corticosteroid is commonly used in exacerbations.
What is prednisone/prednisolone?
This low-dose medication can reduce refractory dyspnoea in end-stage COPD.
What is oral morphine (or low-dose opioids)?
This should be suspected with patients under the age of 40 with suspected COPD.
What is the inherited condition - alpha-antitrypsin deficiency
Vaccination against these pathogens is essential to reduce COPD exacerbations and mortality.
What are pneumococcus and influenza/COVID viruses?
This fixed-dose triple therapy contains an ICS, LAMA, and LABA.
What is fluticasone furoate + umeclidinium + vilanterol (Trelegy), beclometasone+glycopyrronium+formoterol (Trimbow), budesonide+ glycopyrronium+formoterol (Breztri)?
These two oral antibiotics are first-line for infective COPD exacerbations without risk factors.
What are amoxicillin and/or doxycycline?
This MDT member supports aspiration risk management in advanced COPD.
What is a speech therapist/pathologist?
Name two atypical features that should prompt a quick referral to a respiratory physician.
What are age <40, rapid FEV1 decline, haemoptysis, or non-smoker with persistent symptoms?
This test is used before and after rehab to assess functional improvement.
What is the 6-minute walk test?
This class of medication should not be used as monotherapy due to not be disease-modifying and has limited impact on lung function decline in COPD.
What are inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)?
An indication for escalating antibiotic choice and their names.
What is failure to respond, recent antibiotic use, or resistant organisms? and amoxicillin-clavulanate or ciprofloxacin?
Comprehensive COPD care should involve these people in a multidisciplinary team.
What is a team including GP, respiratory physician, COPD nurse, OT/physio, pharmacist, palliative care, psychologist, MyAgedCare and others as needed?