CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE UPDATE 2002

O. D. Polk, Jr., M.D.Assistant Professor of MedicineHoward University College of

Medicine

IMPACT OF COPD IN THE US Affects 21.7 million Americans The fourth leading cause of death

– 112,000 deaths in 1998 Annual cost >$30 billion

– $14.7 billion in direct healthcare costs– $15.7 billion in indirect healthcare costs

It is estimated that by 2020 COPD will be the third leading cause of death in the world

Data on file (analysis of NHANES III data), GlaxoSmithKline.American Lung Association. Fact sheet: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Murphy SL. National Vital Statistics Reports; 48(11); 2000.Murray CJL and Lopez AD, eds. The Global Burden of Disease. Vol. 1. 1996:362.

COPD VS ASTHMA

Annual EstimateCondition mortality (N) annual

cost

COPD 100,000 $25 billion

Asthma 5000-6000 $12 billion

Martin RJ. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology 56th

Annual Meeting; March 4, 2000; San Diego, Calif.

DEFINITION OF COPD Airflow limitation that is

not fully reversible usually progressive

Chronic abnormal inflammatory response to environmental pollutants irritants tobacco smoke

American Thoracic Society. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995;152(suppl, pt 2):S77-S120.

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS

American Thoracic Society. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995;152(suppl, pt 2):S77-S120.

RISK FACTORS FOR COPD Tobacco smoking (80% to 90%) Passive smoking Ambient air pollution Hyperresponsive airways Exposure to occupational dusts and chemicals Indoor/outdoor air pollution Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency (<1%)

American Thoracic Society. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995;152(suppl, pt 2):S77-S120. Mahadeva R and Lomas DA. Thorax. 1998;53:501-505. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. NHLBI/WHO Workshop Report. April 2001. NIH publication 2701.

GENETIC RISK FACTORS FOR COPD

Accelerated decline in lung function 15% of whites 5% of Asians

Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency (PiZZ) Gentic polymorphisms of the TNF,

cytochrome p450, and miocrosomal epoxide hydrolase

ALPHA1 –ANTITRYPSIN DEFICIENCY (AAT) Patients with emphysema: <1% Common variants: S and Z

Point mutations in alpha1-antitrypsin gene S-variant (264GluVal) in 28% of Southern Europeans

Alpha1-antitrypsin levels = 60% no pulmonary effects

Z-variant (342Glu Lys) is associated with severe deficiency

Levels 10% of normal Accumulation of alpha1-antitrypsin in the rough

endoplasmic reticulum of the liver Predisposed to juvenile hepatitis, cirrhosis, and

hepatocellular carcinoma

Mahadeva R and Lomas DA. Thorax. 1998;53:501-505.

PATIENT SELECTION FOR SCREENING FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF AAT

Onset of COPD before age 50 COPD without smoking history Family history of COPD under age 50 Smoker with family history of COPD Young adult asthmatic unresponsive

to therapy Patient with predominant lower lobe

emphysema

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF COPD Hallmark – limitation of expiratory flow with

relative preservation of inspiratory flow Bronchial hyperresponsiveness – strong

predictor of progression of airway obstruction

Nonuniform ventilation Hyperinflation Increased work of breathing and dyspnea

CLINICAL FEATURES OF COPD Typical smokers—mean 20

cigarettes/day for 20 years Usually present in fifth decade of life

with productive cough or acute chest illness

Dyspnea with exertion History of wheezing and dyspnea may

lead to an erroneous diagnosis of asthma

SYMPTOMS OF COPD

Chronic cough Sputum production Breathlessness (dyspnea with

exertion) Wheezing

American Thoracic Society. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995;152(suppl, pt 2):S77-S120.Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. NHLBI/WHO Workshop Report. April 2001. NIH Publication 2701.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION FOR COPD Airflow obstruction

Wheezing during auscultation Prolongation of forced expiratory time

Hyperinflation of lungs Low diaphragmatic position Decreased intensity of heart and breath

sounds Severe disease

Pursed-lip breathing Use of accessory respiratory muscles Retraction of intercostal spaces

American Thoracic Society. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995;152(suppl, pt 2):S77-S120.Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. NHLBI/WHO Workshop Report. April 2001. NIH Publication 2701.

COPD – MANAGEMENT Smoking Cessation Pharmacologic Therapy Oxygen Therapy Pulmonary Rehabilitation Nutrition and COPD Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation Surgery for COPD

Lung Volume Reduction Surgery (LVRS) Lung Transplantation

COPD RISK and SMOKING CESSATION

Fletcher C and Peto R. Br Med J. 1977;1:1645-1648.

SMOKING CESSATION Smoking cessation is the only measure

that will slow the progression of COPD (the Lung Health Study)

The presence of respiratory illness such as COPD is not a motivator for smoking cessation

Physician-delivered smoking cessation interventions can significantly increase smoking abstinence rates

SMOKING CESSATON INTERVENTION Physician Intervention – set a quit date Refer to group smoking cessation clinics Pharmacologic therapy with nicotine

replacement therapy (NRT) in highly dependent smokers Smokes a pack or more per day Requires 1st cigarette within 30 min of waking

up Finds it difficult refraining from smoking in

places where it is forbidden Consider therapy with bupropion alone or

in combination with NRT

HOWARD UNIVERSITY CANCER CENTER

Tobacco Control Program Ongoing Clinical Trial involving

Smoking Cessation We are recruiting patients Call

202-865-4036 202-806-5293

PHARMACOLOGIC THERAPY

Bronchodilators Short-acting Long-acting

Corticosteroids Mucolytics Antibiotics

SHORT-ACTING BRONCHODILATOR DRUGS

Beta2-agonists and anticholinergics Variable onset of action with duration of 4

to 6 h Improve symptoms and exercise capacity Safe 3 to 4 times daily Combining B2-agonists plus

anticholinergic drugs provides additional benefit to either drug alone

SHORTACTING BRONCHODILATORS

LONG-ACTING BRONCHODILATOR DRUGS Drugs

Salmeterol Formoterol Theophylline Oral beta2-agonists

Duration of action usually lasts 12-24 h

Commonly used as maintenance therapy in COPD

SYSTEMIC CORTICOSTEROIDS 10 TO 20% of patients with chronic

COPD improve Responders have more eosinophils in

induced sputum and bronchial biopsy Treatment of hospitalized patients

Fewer treatment failures Shorter stays More hyperglycemia Two (2) weeks of therapy is sufficient

INHALED CORTICOSTEROIDS

No short-term benefit Long-term use may

Improve lung function minimally Improve 6-muinute walk test Reduce moderate and severe (but not

mild) COPD exacerbations

MUCOLYTICS

Variable effects in patients with COPD

Ineffective at shortening the course or improving outcomes of patients with acute exacerbations

ANTIBIOTICS Multiple trials favor the use of

antibiotics for acute exacerbations of COPD Worsening dyspnea Increased sputum volume Sputum purulence

There is no evidence that prophylactic antibiotics prevent acute exacerbations.

OXYGEN THERAPY IN COPD

OXYGEN THERAPY Two controlled trials – MRC and NOTT

Death rates are lower Quality of life indexes improved Used for at least 15 hours/day

Oxygen should be prescribed when Arterial PaO2<55 mmHg or SaO2<88% PaO2 56 to 59 mmHg

ECG evidence of p pulmoonale Pedal Edema/CHF Secondary erythrocytosis

PULMONARY REHABILITATION

Improves dyspnea Improves QOL scores Reduces the number of

hospitalizations and days in the hospital

Effects on survival are not definite

NUTRITION AND COPD Malnutrition occurs in 1/4 to 1/3 of

patients with moderate to severe COPD Depletion of fat mass and fat-free mass Elevated resting energy expenditure

Nutritional supplements alone do not reverse weight loss

Megestrol acetate stimulates weight gain and ventilation in underweight COPD patients but did not improve respiratory muscle function

SURGERY FOR COPD Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS)

Mortality 0 to 6% 30 days postop Mortality 0 to 8% 6 months postop Ongoing trials will provide cost-benefit

analysis Resection of large bullae Lung Transplantation

Procedure is costly Limited lack of organs Requires prolonged immunosuppression

NEW TREATMENTS Mediator Antagonists

Leukotriene antagonists TNF Antioxidants

Protease Inhibitors Antiinflammatory Drugs

Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors Drug Delivery

COPD: KEY POINTS Smoking cessation is extremely important. None of the existing medications for COPD

(with the exception of oxygen) are known to modify the long-term prognosis of this disease

Pharmacotherapy for COPD is used for the overall management of the disease (including improvement of lung function and QOL)

Bronchodilator medications are central to the symptom management of COPD. They are given on an as-needed basis or as maintenance therapy