Clinical Guidance
COPD: Clinical Guidance and Practice Resources
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects around 15 million people in the U.S. and costs more than $32 billion annually.* Chronic lower respiratory diseases, including COPD, are the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the third leading cause of death worldwide.** Family physicians are key players in managing COPD through diagnosis, treatment, and coordination of care.
COPD Clinician Care Kit
COPD guideline highlights
This fact sheet fratures proper assessment, diagnosis and management of COPD in accordance with practice guidelines, asll of which are essential to improving patient outcomes and reducing the risks associated with exacerbation.
Identifying patients at risk
Early identification of patients at risk for COPD exacerbations is critical. This fact sheet features quick tips and methods for early identification and intervention of patients at risk for these potentially life-threatening events.
Patient nonadherence to COPD treatment
This sheet provides guidance on a proactive, nonjudgmental approach to address nonadherence before it leads to worse symptoms and avoidable exacerbations.
COPD Practice Hacks Video Series
These three practice hack videos use key insights from AAFP's guidelines and real-world examples to highlight practical ways care teams—primary care physicians, respiratory therapists, and pulmonologists—can collaborate effectively to:
- Manage COPD exacerbations
- Identify patients at risk for COPD exacerbations early, including using EHR data and lab results
- Boost patient adherence, including demonstrating proper inhaler techniques, streamlining medication management, and supporting smoking cessation efforts
Shared decision-making guide: Talking to patients about COPD and COPD exacerbations
The five-step SHARE Approach (i.e., Seek, Help, Assess, Reach, Evaluate) can facilitate shared decision-making between family physicians and their patients and help reduce risk factors and prevent or reduce exacerbations.
*This content was independently developed by the AAFP with support provided by Sanofi and Regeneron.
Screening Recommendations
At this time, screening is not recommended by the USPSTF for COPD in asymptomatic adults. Read more
Treatment and Management Recommendations
Management of Acute Exacerbations of COPD
Developed by the AAFP (April 2021)
Management of Stable COPD: GOLD Guidelines
The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) is a resource that provides a review of evidence with practice considerations and is widely used by clinicians in managing stable COPD. As this document is not a clinical practice guideline, it did not meet the criteria to be reviewed by the AAFP for endorsement.
Managing Your Practice
Quality Measures: Identify Opportunities to Improve Patient Care
AAFP TIPS Topic on Quality Improvement
Train your team on the benefits, concepts, and steps of the quality improvement process to enhance the care you provide. Includes two online learning courses, three customizable slide decks, and six downloadable tools. CME: 1 AAFP Prescribed credit; Free to members.
Coding & Payment: How to Support Chronic Care Management Services
Coordinated Care and Care Management Tools and Resources
FPM Journal
Coding Common Respiratory Problems in ICD-10
Implementation Tools and Considerations
On-Demand Webcast: Spectrum of COPD Treatment
This free recorded webcast covers best practices for care coordination, COPD co-morbidities, environmental factors, how social determinants of health influence the condition, and more.
Pharmacologic Management of COPD Exacerbations
Developed by the AAFP and approved in April 2021
Education
Clinican Education
Continuing Medical Education
View applicable courses in:
Pulmonary Medicine
Respiratory Conditions
AFP Journal
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Patient Education
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Other Related Resources
* Kochanek KD, Murphy SL, Xu J, et al. Deaths: final data for 2014. Natl Vital Stat Rep. 2016;65(4):1-122. AND #2. Ford ES, Murphy LB, Khavjou O, et al. Total and state-specific medical and absenteeism costs of COPD among adults aged ≥ 18 years in the United States for 2010 and projections through 2020. Chest. 2015; 147(1):31-45.
** Murphy SL, Xu J, Kochanek KD, et al. Mortality in the United States, 2017. NCHS Data Brief. 2018;(328):1-8. AND #4. GBD 2016 Causes of Death Collaborators. Global, regional, and national age-sex specific mortality for 264 causes of death, 1980-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 [published correction appears in Lancet. 2017;390(10106):e38]. Lancet. 2017;390(10100):1151-1210.