Encouraging patients with COPD to stop smoking

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The progressive nature of COPD is so fundamental that it is included in the definition adopted in the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines.¹ According to GOLD, COPD is a disease state: ‘characterised by airflow limitation that is usually progressive and associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airways and the lung to noxious particles or gases. Exacerbations and comorbidities contribute to the overall severity in individual patients’.¹

Many patients will experience COPD exacerbations. COPD exacerbations result in increased use of bronchodilators, impaired function and decreased enjoyment of life. More severe exacerbations require systemic steroids, antibiotics, and sometimes hospitalisation.