Structured Review: To Optimise Management and Prevent Harm in COPD

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious lung condition and the third leading cause of death worldwide. People with COPD have sudden and distressing flare-ups (exacerbations). These can be triggered by infections or occur without a clear cause. Flare-ups often lead to hospital admission, can cause a lasting health decline, increase the risk of dying and are strongly liked to lower income. Sometimes, people are wrongly diagnosed with COPD, when they have a different health issue. Other diseases (like heart conditions) are common in people with COPD, and share similar symptoms. These have often not been diagnosed and worsening of these conditions can look like a flare-up of COPD, leading to incorrect treatment. Additionally, many people with COPD have not been offered appropriate treatments that would reduce their flare-up frequency. COPD flare-ups are treated with steroid tablets (prednisolone), and sometimes antibiotics. Frequent use of prednisolone causes side effects such as weight gain, bone thinning (osteoporosis) and diabetes. Reducing how often people with COPD have flare-ups can reduce these side effects. The investigators aim to reduce COPD flare-ups and prevent harm from prednisolone by improving the treatment of COPD, while also checking for other health conditions. The goal: In people with COPD, who take prednisolone for flare-ups (three of more times a year), the investigators want to see if a thorough assessment (that focuses on…

This description comes directly from the study's public registry record.

Ruth E Sobala, MBBS  ·  +44191 293 4351  ·  ruth.sobala2@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk

Stephen C Bourke  ·  +44191 293 4351  ·  stephen.bourke@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk

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