Comprehensive
Strategies for Managing COPD Exacerbations
An Internet CME Newsletter
April 2007
WELCOME
Chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition that affects
at least 12 million US adults. It is the fourth leading cause of
death in the United States, claiming 119,000 lives annually.
Acute exacerbations of COPD are largely responsible for this
high mortality rate. Moreover,
acute exacerbations increase the risk for hospitalization and
mortality and have significant negative effects on pulmonary
function and quality of life. In addition to the toll they take on
patients, COPD exacerbations are costly to society as a
whole—accounting for 35% to 45% of total per capita COPD health
care costs.
Clinicians
need to know that prevention is the best method for reducing the
morbidity and mortality associated with COPD exacerbations, and
that early and effective intervention is necessary if prevention
fails. Awareness of algorithms and guidelines, particularly those
issued by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung
Disease, may minimize the incidence of acute exacerbations of COPD
and improve quality of life.
This
newsletter reviews the key pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic
components of preventing acute exacerbations of COPD—including
patient self-management and increased adherence to therapy. It
also details diagnosis and treatment of acute exacerbations of
COPD, along with follow-up after resolution of an exacerbation.
I hope the
information in this newsletter is useful to you and your patients.
When you submit your posttest for certification, please also
include your activity evaluation, as your responses will help us
target future activities to your educational needs.
Sincerely,
Wisia Wedzicha, MD, Editor
Professor of Respiratory Medicine
University College London
London, England
Sponsorship
and Support
Sponsored by Veritas Institute for Medical Education, Inc.
Supported by an educational grant from Boehringer Ingelheim
Pharmaceuticals Inc and Pfizer Inc.
Method of
Participation
Complete the Pretest,
read this newsletter, complete the Posttest, Activity Evaluation, and
Request for Credit Form. To receive your CME certificate
immediately, you must receive a Posttest score of 70% or higher.
This activity is provided free of charge to participants.
Intended
Audience
Pulmonologists
Effective
Dates
April
2007 to March 31, 2008
Accreditation/Designation of Credit Statements
Veritas Institute for Medical Education, Inc. is accredited by the
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide
continuing medical education for physicians.
Veritas
Institute for Medical Education, Inc. designates this educational
activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent
of their participation in the activity.
Financial
Disclosure Statements
In
accordance with the ACCME’s Standards for Commercial Support, all
CME providers are required to disclose to the activity audience
the relevant financial relationships of the planners, teachers,
and authors involved in the development of CME content. An
individual has a relevant financial relationship if he or she has
a financial relationship in any amount occurring in the last 12
months with a commercial interest whose products or services are
discussed in the CME activity content over which the individual
has control. Disclosures are as follows:
Wisia Wedzicha, MD:
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP (speaker), Boehringer
Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc (speaker), GlaxoSmithKline (advisory
board and speaker).
Richard Casaburi, PhD, MD:
Altana Pharma AG (research grant), AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
(advisory board), Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc
(speaker, research grant, advisory board), Forest Laboratories Inc
(consultant), Pfizer Inc (speaker, advisory board), Roche
Pharmaceuticals (research grant).
The staff of
Veritas Institute for Medical Education, Inc. has nothing to
disclose.
Unlabeled
Use Disclosure Statement
Participants are advised that this CME activity will contain
references to the unlabeled/unapproved/investigational uses of
drugs to treat acute exacerbations of COPD.
Disclaimer
The
opinions expressed in this activity are those of the faculty and
do not necessarily reflect those of Veritas Institute for Medical
Education, Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, or
Pfizer Inc. Please consult the appropriate package insert for full
prescribing information on all drug therapies discussed.
Editorial
Board
Editor
Wisia Wedzicha,
MD
Professor of
Respiratory Medicine
University College London
London, England
Faculty Reviewer
Richard Casaburi,
PhD, MD
Associate Chief of Research
Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Physiology and
Medicine
Los Angeles
Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance,
California
Copyright ©
2007 Veritas Institute for Medical Education, Inc. All rights
reserved.
LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
1.
You
will be able to identify and explain the risk factors for and
pathophysiology of acute exacerbations of COPD.
2.
Using current consensus guidelines, you will be able to accurately
diagnose acute exacerbations of COPD in patients presenting with
relevant symptoms, regardless of whether they have had a previous
diagnosis of COPD.
3.
You
will be able to assess effective pharmacologic and
nonpharmacologic therapies to treat COPD patients with acute
exacerbations, in both the outpatient and inpatient settings.
4.
You
will be able to integrate pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic
approaches to help prevent exacerbations and minimize the chances
of recurrence.
