Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- COPD Overview
- COPD Causes
- COPD Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- COPD Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Support Groups and Counseling
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Viewer Comments: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - Symptoms At Onset Of Disease
Outlook
For people with mild COPD, the prognosis is favorable. More severe cases of COPD suggest a worse prognosis. Of those people who are admitted to the ICU with an acute exacerbation, the death rate is 24%. This rate doubles for people aged 65 years or older. The predictors of death due to COPD are as follows:
- Aging
- Continued smoking
- Accelerated decline in FEV1
- Moderate-to-severe airflow obstruction
- Poor bronchodilator response
- Severe hypoxemia
- Presence of hypercapnia (increased arterial carbon dioxide tension)
- Development of cor pulmonale (right-sided heart failure)
- Overall poor functional capacity
Next: Support Groups and Counseling »
Viewer Comments & Reviews
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - Symptoms At Onset Of Disease
The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:
The symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease »
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a devastating disorder that causes a huge degree of human suffering.
