What happens to COPD patients before an admission with exacerbation?

Self-management behaviour and support among primary care COPD patients: cross-sectional analysis of data from the Birmingham Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Cohort

Self-management support for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients is recommended by UK national guidelines, but extent of implementation is unknown. We aimed to describe self-management behaviour and support among COPD patients and explore behaviour associated with having a self-management plan. We undertook cross-sectional analysis of self-reported data from diagnosed COPD patients in the Birmingham COPD Cohort study. Questionnaire items relevant to self-management behaviour, knowledge of COPD, receipt of self-management plans and advice from healthcare professionals were examined. Multiple regression models were used to identify behaviour associated with having a self-management plan. One-thousand seventy-eight participants (676 males, 62.7%, mean age 69.8 (standard deviation 9.0) years) were included. The majority reported taking medications as instructed (940, 94.0%) and receiving annual influenza vaccinations (962, 89.2%). Only 400 (40.4%) participants had self-management plans, 538 (49.9%) reported never having received advice on diet/exercise and 110 (42.7%) current smokers had been offered practical help to stop smoking in the previous year. General knowledge about COPD was moderate (mean total Bristol COPD Knowledge Questionnaire score: 31.5 (standard deviation 10.7); max score 65), corresponding to 48.5% of questions answered correctly. Having a self-management plan was positively associated with self-reported adherence to medication (odds ratio 3.10, 95% confidence interval 1.43 to 6.72), attendance at a training course (odds ratio 2.72, 95% confidence interval 1.81 to 4.12), attendance at a support group (odds ratio 6.28, 95% confidence interval 2.96 to 13.35) and better disease knowledge (mean difference 4.87, 95% confidence interval 3.16 to 6.58). Primary care healthcare professionals should ensure more widespread implementation of individualised self-management plans for all patients and improve the lifestyle advice provided.

CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE

CALL FOR WIDER IMPLEMENTATION OF SELF-MANAGEMENT PLANS: Health professionals should ensure all patients with chronic lung disease receive individualized self-management plans and lifestyle advice. UK national guidelines state that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should receive personalized self-management plans and comprehensive support to help them manage their disease. Ainee Khan and colleagues at the University of Birmingham analyzed patient questionnaire data gathered during the Birmingham COPD Cohort study to explore self-management behavior, receipt of self-management plans and advice, and patient knowledge of COPD. Of 1,078 participants, only 400 had self-management plans, and less than half reported receiving lifestyle advice or support. Those with plans were more likely to adhere to medication, had greater knowledge about COPD and were more likely to attend support groups and training courses. The authors recommend carefully-planned, wider implementation of COPD self-management plans and associated support.

(Cost-)effectiveness of self-treatment of exacerbations in patients with COPD: 2 years follow-up of a RCT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Long-term effectiveness of action plans in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is minimally investigated. We have evaluated the (cost-)effectiveness of a self-management programme with or without self-treatment of exacerbations after 2 years follow-up.

METHODS

Self-management with or without self-treatment of exacerbations was randomly assigned to patients. All patients participated in four self-management meetings. Patients in the self-treatment group (STG) also learned to use an action plan to start a course of prednisolone and/or antibiotics in case of worsening of symptoms. Primary outcome was the duration and severity of exacerbations.

RESULTS

Data of 70 COPD patients in the STG and 72 patients in the control group (CG) were analysed. Over 2 years, the median number of exacerbation days was significantly lower in the STG (50, IQR: 32-115) compared with the CG (82, IQR: 22-186) (P = 0.047), as was the mean symptom score of an exacerbation (STG: 43.4, IQR 27.2-68.6 vs CG: 55.9, IQR: 31.2-96.8) (P = 0.029). Also, patients in the STG visited the respiratory physician and emergency department less frequently than patients in the CG with incidence rate ratios of 1.52 (95% CI: 1.28-1.79) and 2.27 (95% CI: 1.11-4.62), respectively. Direct medical costs per patient over 2 years were €1078 lower in the STG.

CONCLUSION

Self-treatment of exacerbations is beneficial in COPD patients without significant comorbidities because it reduces exacerbation duration, exacerbation severity and health-care utilization leading to considerable cost savings.

Impact of a patient-specific co-designed COPD care scorecard on COPD care quality: a quasi-experimental study

Background:

The evidence that sharing mass care quality data with health service users improves care is weak.

Aims:

We hypothesised that providing patients with individualised care quality data would drive improvements to the care received by those patients.

Methods:

Together with patients who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), we co-designed a quality score card mapping indicators derived from National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) quality standards against matched data taken from their general practice clinical records. All 640 COPD patients from 10 practices had improvements in these indicators before and 3 months after the intervention compared with 595 COPD patients in 10 control practices.

Results:

Significant improvements in referral to pulmonary rehabilitation (P=0.03) and confirmation of diagnosis with spirometry (P=0.001) were seen in the intervention compared with the control practice population (P<0.001). Increases in the provision of self-management plans were seen in both the groups. No improvement was seen in other indicators.

Conclusions:

Although the study is not able to prove a direct cause and effect, there is sufficient evidence presented to warrant the larger-scale evaluation of co-designed, personalised, quality score cards for COPD patients used as a tool to enhance care quality.

Oxygen therapy in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are important events in the history of this debilitating lung condition. Associated health care utilization and morbidity are high, and many patients require supplemental oxygen or ventilatory support. The last 2 decades have seen a substantial increase in our understanding of the best way to manage the respiratory failure suffered by many patients during this high-risk period. This review article examines the evidence underlying supplemental oxygen therapy during exacerbations of COPD. We first discuss the epidemiology and pathophysiology of respiratory failure in COPD during exacerbations. The rationale and evidence underlying oxygen therapy, including the risks when administered inappropriately, are then discussed, along with further strategies for ventilatory support. We also review current recommendations for best practice, including methods for improving oxygen provision in the future.