Diagnosing and Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD is a common, preventable and treatable lung disease that develops as a result of exposure to noxious particles (most commonly tobacco smoke) over time in predisposed individuals. People with COPD typically experience persistent and often progressive symptoms, including shortness of breath, cough and sputum production. In addition, people with COPD are prone to episodes of rapid symptom worsening, termed exacerbations that frequently require support from acute healthcare services.
Over 42,000 people in Humber and North Yorkshire have been diagnosed with COPD, reflecting a higher prevalence than the England average, and many more people are living with the symptoms of COPD but have not yet been diagnosed. The rate of emergency hospital admissions with COPD are also higher in HNY than the England average. There is therefore opportunity to improve outcomes for people living with COPD in the region.
The Humber and North Yorkshire (HNY) Respiratory Network are passionate about ensuring that everyone with COPD across the region can access equitable, high-quality and sustainable care. The network aims to drive improvements in COPD care in order to improve outcomes for all people living with COPD in HNY, including reducing their risk of COPD exacerbation and hospitalisation.
COPD Guidelines
The HNY Respiratory Network have worked with clinicians, commissioners and patients from across the region to develop a unified guide to managing COPD. These guidelines are intended to provide system-wide, evidence-based guidance on the diagnosis and management of COPD. They consist of a series of quick-reference summary guides that are complemented by a comprehensive guideline document. Aligned with national and international guidance, incorporating the latest evidence, and developed with regard to the local healthcare context, the guidelines have potential to support clinicians to provide and patients to access high quality treatment for their COPD.
The following COPD guidelines are intended for use by clinicians working in Humber and North Yorkshire and have been developed to inform:
- Diagnosis of COPD
- Management of COPD (non-pharmacological and pharmacological)
- Management of Common COPD related Co-Morbidities
Quick Reference Summary COPD Guides
Resources to Support Guideline Implementation
To improve COPD care and patient outcomes across the region, it is essential that guideline recommended care is implemented into practice. For this reason, the HNY Respiratory Network have developed a range of resources and educational materials to support practice change.