Treating and preventing acute exacerbations of COPD

Umur S Hatipoglu; Loutfi S Aboussouan

doi:10.3949/ccjm.83a.14188

Treating and preventing acute exacerbations of COPD

Cleve Clin J Med. 2016 Apr;83(4):289-300. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.83a.14188.

Authors

Umur S Hatipoglu¹, Loutfi S Aboussouan^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Quality Improvement Officer, Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. E-mail: hatipou@ccf.org.
² Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
³ Associate Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.

PMID: 27055203
DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.83a.14188

Abstract

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)--characterized by shortness of breath, increased sputum production, increased purulence, or a combination of these signs--are costly and can have major impacts on the patient's health. Corticosteroids, antibiotics, and bronchodilators are the cornerstones of prevention and therapy, with mucolytics, oxygen supplementation, and ventilatory support also advisable for some patients. Treatment should be evidence-based and tailored to the patient's history and present needs.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Acidosis, Respiratory / etiology
Acidosis, Respiratory / therapy
Acute Disease / therapy*
Administration, Inhalation
Albuterol / administration & dosage
Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
Bronchodilator Agents / administration & dosage
Disease Progression*
Glucocorticoids / administration & dosage
Humans
Prednisone / administration & dosage
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / complications
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / drug therapy*
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / pathology
Respiration, Artificial / methods
Risk Factors

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Bronchodilator Agents
Glucocorticoids
Albuterol
Prednisone