Patients with COPD are susceptible to many insults that can lead rapidly to an acute deterioration superimposed on chronic disease. COPD exacerbation is an important but occasionally overlooked parameter. COPD exacerbations are very common, affecting about 20% of patients with moderate-to-severe COPD (1.3 events per year in patients with 40-45% predicted FEV1). A large observational cohort study found that the rate of COPD exacerbations reflects an independent susceptibility phenotype. [1] Knowledge of this susceptibility phenotype may have implications for targeting treatment of exacerbation and prevention across all COPD severities. Quick and accurate recognition of these patients along with aggressive and prompt intervention may be the only action that prevents frank respiratory failure.
For more information, see Medscape's COPD Resource Center.
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Histopathology of chronic bronchitis showing hyperplasia of mucous glands and infiltration of the airway wall with inflammatory cells.
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Histopathology of chronic bronchitis showing hyperplasia of mucous glands and infiltration of the airway wall with inflammatory cells (high-powered view).
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Posteroanterior (PA) and lateral chest radiograph in a patient with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Hyperinflation, depressed diaphragms, increased retrosternal space, and hypovascularity of lung parenchyma is demonstrated.
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A lung with emphysema shows increased anteroposterior (AP) diameter, increased retrosternal airspace, and flattened diaphragms on lateral chest radiograph.
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A lung with emphysema shows increased anteroposterior (AP) diameter, increased retrosternal airspace, and flattened diaphragms on posteroanterior chest radiograph.
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Subcutaneous emphysema and pneumothorax.
