What You Need to Know

How long a person may live with COPD depends on the severity of the symptoms. There are various ways to measure COPD stages, including by looking at complications such as difficulty breathing or blocked airflow.

Millions of adults in the United States have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and just as many are developing it. But many of them are unaware, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

One question many people with COPD have is, “How long can I live with COPD?” There’s no way to predict the exact life expectancy, but having this progressive lung disease can shorten lifespan.

How much so depends on your overall health and whether you have other diseases such as heart disease or diabetes.

Researchers over the years have come up with a way to assess the health of someone with COPD. One of the most current methods combines spirometry lung function test results with a person’s symptoms. These result in labels that can help predict life expectancy and guide treatment choices in those with COPD.

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) is one of the most used systems of classifying COPD. GOLD is an international group of lung health experts who periodically produce and update guidelines for doctors to use in the care of people with COPD.

Doctors use the GOLD system to assess people with COPD in “grades” of the disease. Grading is a way to measure the severity of the condition. It uses the forced expiratory volume (FEV1), a test that determines the amount of air a person can forcefully exhale from their lungs in one second, to categorize the severity of COPD.

The most recent guidelines make FEV1 part of the assessment. Based on your FEV1 score, you receive a GOLD grade or stage as follows:

• GOLD 1: FEV1 of 80 percent predicted or more
• GOLD 2: FEV1 of 50 to 79 percent predicted
• GOLD 3: FEV1 of 30 to 49 percent predicted
• GOLD 4: FEV1 of less than 30 percent predicted

The second part of the assessment relies on symptoms such as dyspnea, or difficulty breathing, and degree and amount of acute exacerbations, which are flare-ups that may require hospitalization.

Based on these criteria, people with COPD will be in one of four groups: A, B, C, or D.

Someone with no exacerbations or one that didn’t require hospital admission in the past year would be in group A or B. This will also depend on an assessment of breathing symptoms. Those with more symptoms would be in group B, and those with less symptoms would be in group A.

People with at least one exacerbation that required hospitalization, or at least two exacerbations that did or didn’t require hospital admission in the past year, would be in Group C or D. Then, those with more breathing symptoms would be in group D, and those with less symptoms would be in group C.

Under the new guidelines, someone labeled GOLD Grade 4, Group D, would have the most serious classification of COPD. And they’ll technically have a shorter life expectancy than someone with a label of GOLD Grade 1, Group A.

Another measure that uses more than just the FEV1 to gauge a person’s COPD condition and outlook is the BODE index. BODE stands for:

• body mass
• airflow obstruction
• dyspnea
• exercise capacity

BODE takes an overall picture of how COPD affects your life. Though the BODE index is used by some physicians, its value may be lessening as researchers learn more about the disease.

Body mass

The body mass index (BMI), which looks at body mass based on height and weight parameters, can determine if a person is overweight or obese. BMI can also determine if someone’s too thin. People who have COPD and are too thin may have a poor outlook.

Airflow obstruction

This refers to the FEV1, as in the GOLD system.

Dyspnea

Some prior studies suggest that trouble breathing can affect outlook for COPD.

Exercise capacity

This means how well you’re able to tolerate exercise. It’s often measured by a test called the “6-minute walk test.”

One of the key features of COPD is systemic inflammation. A blood test that checks for certain markers of inflammation may be helpful.

Research published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease suggests that the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and eosinophil-to-basophil ratio significantly correlate to the severity of COPD.

The above article suggests a routine blood test can measure these markers in those with COPD. It also noted that the NLR may be particularly helpful as a predictor for life expectancy.

As with any serious disease, such as COPD or cancer, probable life expectancy is based largely on the severity or stage of the disease.

For example, in a 2009 study published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, a 65-year-old man with COPD who currently smokes tobacco has the following reductions in life expectancy, depending on stage of COPD:

• stage 1: 0.3 years
• stage 2: 2.2 years
• stage 3 or 4: 5.8 years

The article also noted that for this group, an additional 3.5 years were also lost to smoking compared with those who never smoked and didn’t have lung disease.

For former smokers, the reduction in life expectancy from COPD is:

• stage 2: 1.4 years
• stage 3 or 4: 5.6 years

The article also noted that for this group, an additional 0.5 years were also lost to smoking compared to those who never smoked and didn’t have lung disease.

For those who never smoked, the reduction in life expectancy is:

• stage 2: 0.7 years
• stage 3 or 4: 1.3 years

For former smokers and those who’ve never smoked, the difference in life expectancy for people at stage 0 and people at stage 1 wasn’t as significant, as opposed to those who were current smokers.

What’s the upshot of these methods of predicting life expectancy? The more you can do to keep from progressing to a higher stage of COPD the better.

The best way to slow down the progression of the disease is to stop smoking if you smoke. Also, avoid secondhand smoke or other irritants such as air pollution, dust, or chemicals.

If you’re underweight, it’s helpful to maintain a healthy weight with good nutrition and techniques to increase food intake, such as eating small, frequent meals. Learning how to improve breathing with exercises such as pursed lip breathing will also help.

You may also want to participate in a pulmonary rehabilitation program. You’ll learn about exercises, breathing techniques, and other strategies to maximize your health.

And while exercise and physical activity may be challenging with a breathing disorder, it’s one of the best things you can do for the health of your lungs and the rest of your body.

Talk with your doctor about a safe way to start exercising. Learn the warning signs of breathing problems and what you should do if you notice a minor flare-up. You’ll want to follow any COPD medication therapy prescribed to you by your doctor.

The more you can do to improve your overall health, the longer and fuller your life can be.

Did you know?

COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Lung Association.

COPD Life Expectancy: The 4 Stages

November 15, 2022

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that constricts airways and causes difficulty breathing. With this condition, one may be concerned with life expectancy. What is COPD life expectancy? What is the life expectancy for COPD stage 4? Is stage 4 COPD life expectancy survivable? In this post, we will review what you need to know about COPD stages and life expectancy.

COPD Symptoms

Life expectancy with COPD can get complicated so first, we will take a look at the symptoms. These symptoms usually don’t appear until significant lung damage has occurred and they usually worsen over time. These symptoms include:

• Chest tightness

• Shortness of breath, namely during physical activities

• Difficulty taking a deep breath

• Frequent wheezing and coughing

• Frequent respiratory infections

• Excess phlegm and sputum that may appear yellow, green, or white

• Lack of energy

• Unintended weight loss in the later stages

• Swelling in the legs, feet, and ankles

COPD Causes

Some common causes of COPD include:

• Smoking. Direct smoking and secondhand smoke is the main cause of COPD and is thought to be responsible for 9 in 10 cases.

• Fumes and dust at work. Exposure to dust and chemicals such as cadmium dust and fumes, coal dust, grain and flour dust, isocyanates, silica dust, and welding fumes have been known to increase the chances of COPD.

• Air pollution. While research is still continuing on this, it is believed that prolonged exposure to air pollution can cause COPD.

Now that we know more about the causes of COPD, we can finally review life expectancy with COPD. What is severe COPD life expectancy? What is mild COPD life expectancy? We’ll review that in the next section.

Stages of COPD Life Expectancy When Smoking

We are now ready to review the life expectancy for COPD in each stage while smoking. What is the life expectancy of COPD? The life expectancy of COPD varies depending on the stage one is in. Below, we will review all stages of COPD life expectancy, including end-stage COPD life expectancy. According to a study, these years typically account for the drop in life expectancy for men over age 65 who smoke.

COPD Life Expectancy: Stage 1

Stage 1 COPD life expectancy is 0.3 years.

COPD Life Expectancy: Stage 2

Stage 2 COPD life expectancy is 2.2 years.

COPD Life Expectancy: Stage 3

Stage 3 COPD life expectancy is 5.8 years. The same study also found that female smokers lost about five years of their lives at this stage.

COPD Life Expectancy: Stage 4

COPD stage 4 life expectancy is 5.8 years. The same study also found that female smokers lost about nine years of their life at this stage.

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COPD Treatment

Now that we know more about life expectancy for COPD, we can take a look at treatment methods. Below are a few effective treatments.

• Quit smoking and avoid tobacco smoke. This is the most important part of treatment.

• Take medication. Medications can treat symptoms such as coughing and wheezing.

• Use supplemental oxygen. A portable oxygen tank may be necessary if blood oxygen levels are low.

• Take steps to avoid lung infections. Flu vaccines, pneumococcal vaccines, and antibiotics can be especially beneficial. Ask your doctor for the best method(s).

Ask about pulmonary rehabilitation. Consult your doctor about this personalized treatment program, which can include advice on improved breathing, food, and exercise advice.

To learn more about our home care services, contact our caregiving team today at
(877) 268-3277 or
find a caregiver near you.

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90,000 in Russia registered a three -component drug for the treatment of chronic obstructive lung disease of Astrazeneca

Published October 5, 2022

Budesonide + glycopyrronium + formoterol Fumarat reduces the frequency of exacerbations in patients with HOLD, improves the function of the lungs, and also reduces the risk of risk death compared with dual bronchodilator therapy

AstraZeneca Breztry Aerosphere is registered in Russia as a maintenance treatment for moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adult patients who have not achieved adequate disease control with therapy with a combination of an inhaled glucocorticosteroid and a long-acting β2-agonist or a combination of a long-acting β2-agonist and a long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonist.

Breztry Aerosphere contains the glucocorticosteroid budesonide and two bronchodilators: glycopyrronium (a long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonist) and formoterol (a long-acting β2-adrenergic agonist). The combination of these three substances with different mechanisms of action reduces the frequency of exacerbations in patients with COPD, improves lung function, and also reduces the risk of death compared with the use of any two-component bronchodilator therapy.

Approval based on positive results from ETHOS Phase III trials ¹ and KRONOS ² .

In the ETHOS study, triple therapy with budesonide + glycopyrronium + formoterol fumarate demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of moderate or severe exacerbations of COPD by 24% compared with dual therapy with glycopyrronium + formoterol fumarate dihydrate and by 13% compared with the combination of budesonide + formoterol fumarate dihydrate ¹ . In addition, triple combination therapy reduced the risk of death by 49% in patients with COPD compared with two-component bronchodilation ³ .

The KRONOS study showed that triple therapy with budesonide + glycopyrronium + formoterol fumarate reduced symptoms and improved quality of life compared with dual therapy in patients with moderate to very severe COPD, regardless of a history of exacerbations ² .

COPD is a common chronic lung disease that results from an inflammatory response of the airways and lung tissue to inhaled noxious particles or gases ⁴ . The prevalence of COPD in Russia is 21.8% among individuals with respiratory symptoms and 15.3% in the general population ⁴ .

Today, COPD ranks third among all causes of death in the world, second only to coronary heart disease and strokes ⁵ . According to the death statistics, one in five patients with COPD dies within one year after the first hospitalization ⁶ .

Anna Brashchenkova, Medical Director of Biopharma, AstraZeneca, Russia and Eurasia : “Even a single exacerbation of COPD can have a negative impact on a patient’s lung function and quality of life, as well as significantly reduce life expectancy and increase the risk of death. That is why the prevention of exacerbations of the disease is of key importance for its treatment. The combination of budesonide + glycopyrronium + formoterol fumarate has shown significant benefits in reducing exacerbations in COPD patients compared to dual combination therapy. We are very pleased that this therapeutic option has become available in Russia, and we hope that our drug will help improve the quality of life and prognosis of the disease in many patients with COPD.”

About Breztry Aerosphere ⁷

The drug is a combination of inhaled glucocorticosteroid budesonide , long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonist glyco pyrronium and long-acting β2-agonist formoterol .

Budesonide after inhalation has a rapid and dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect in the airways, reducing the severity of symptoms and the frequency of exacerbations of COPD. When using inhaled budesonide, there are fewer severe adverse effects compared with systemic glucocorticosteroids.

Glycopyrronium is a long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonist often referred to as an anticholinergic. The main targets of anticholinergics are muscarinic receptors in the airways. Glycopyrronium has a rapid onset of action and similar affinity for the M1-M5 muscarinic receptor subtypes. In the airways, bronchodilation is achieved by inhibition of M3 receptors on smooth muscles. This antagonism is competitive and reversible. The suppression of the bronchoconstriction effect caused by methylcholine and acetylcholine was dose-dependent and lasted more than 12 hours.

Formoterol is a selective β2-adrenergic agonist that, after inhalation, leads to rapid and prolonged relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle in patients with reversible airway obstruction. Bronchodilation is achieved by direct relaxation of the smooth muscles of the airways due to an increase in the level of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) after activation of adenylate cyclase. The bronchodilating effect is dose-dependent and begins within 1-3 minutes after inhalation. The duration of action after a single dose is at least 12 hours.

Breztry Aerosphere is available in the form of an aerosol for dosed inhalation. A dose counter is attached to the drug canister, which allows you to track the number of remaining inhalations.

About AstraZeneca’s work in the field of respiratory diseases
Pulmonology is one of AstraZeneca’s main therapeutic areas. The company has 50 years of experience and is a recognized leader in the treatment of respiratory diseases using inhalation technologies and biologics. The company intends to change traditional approaches to the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by reducing the frequency of exacerbations in patients with any severity of the disease, as well as eliminating COPD from the main causes of death through earlier treatment. The company’s pulmonology research focuses on cutting-edge scientific advances related to immune mechanisms, lung damage, and abnormal cell repair processes. With knowledge of common pathways and risk factors for respiratory disease and immune system disease, AstraZeneca uses scientific advances to develop medicines to treat diseases ranging from chronic lung diseases to immune system diseases.

About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is an international science-based biopharmaceutical company focused on research, development and marketing of prescription drugs primarily in the therapeutic areas of oncology, cardiology, nephrology and metabolism, respiratory and autoimmune diseases. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca is present in more than 100 countries and its innovative products are used by millions of patients around the world. You can visit the website at: https://www.astrazeneca.ru/

For more information on the press release, please contact:
Vera Eroshchenkova
AstraZeneca External Communications Specialist
Tel: +7 (495) 799 5699
e-mail: vera.eroshchenkova@astrazeneca. com

For other questions, please see the list of contacts at the link: https://www.astrazeneca.ru/contact.html

List of sources:

901 01 Rabe KF and al. N Engl J Med. 2020 Jul 2;383(1):35-48.
1. Ferguson GT et al. Lancet Respir Med . 2018;6:747-758.
2. Martinez FJ et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021 Mar 1;203(5):553-564.
3. Clinical guidelines “Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease” 2021 Russian Respiratory Society (RRS). [Electronic resource]. URL: https://cr.minzdrav.gov.ru/schema/603_2 .
4. WHO Newsletter of 22.06.2021. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). [Electronic resource] URL: https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-(copd) .
5. Ho TW, Tsai YJ, Ruan SY, et al. In-Hospital and One-Year Mortality and Their Predictors in Patients Hospitalized for First-Ever Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations: A Nationwide Population-Based Study. PLOS ONE. 2014; 9(12): e114866.
6. Instructions for medical use of the medicinal product Breztry Aerosphere 160 mcg + 7.2 mcg + 5.0 mcg / dose (metered dose inhalation aerosol). Registration certificate LP-N001229dated 19.09.2022.

a disease to which it is better not to bring > Rubric Medicine in Samara

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease remains one of the most important problems of modern healthcare. More and more people are learning from their own experience what unpleasant symptoms and terrible consequences – disability and death – are behind this obscure abbreviation. What are the causes of COPD? How to treat it? Who is at risk? Aleksey Borisov, head of the pulmonology department of the Seredavin Hospital, talks about this and much more.

The first call is shortness of breath

— The main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is smoking. Tobacco smoke contains substances that cause inflammation that destroys tissue in the lungs and bronchi. The disease progresses slowly. Therefore, shortness of breath – the main symptom – becomes noticeable, that is, interfering with life, after 40 years.

COPD is a disease in which the passage of air through the bronchi is disturbed, making it difficult for oxygen to get from the lungs into the blood. As a result, respiratory failure develops, which is manifested by dyspnea, that is, a change in the frequency, depth and rhythm of breathing.

The intensity of the problem depends on the severity of the disease. As a rule, the first signal is felt when climbing stairs or walking uphill. Then it becomes hard to even just walk quickly on a flat surface. Over time, the disease makes a person stick to a slow pace, periodically stop. In a very severe form, shortness of breath manifests itself even at rest.

Sad third place

The risk group is usually men over 45 years of age. As a rule, they are heavy smokers. Despite the fact that a healthy lifestyle is now in vogue, COPD has recently taken a leading position in the structure of the incidence of respiratory diseases. Moreover, according to the World Health Organization, COPD is the third leading cause of death after cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Diagnosis is based on symptoms, primarily shortness of breath, but also cough and expectoration. Doctors check lung function by spirometry: the study fixes a decrease in the speed of air passage through the bronchi. Sometimes emphysema, one of the manifestations of COPD, is detected using computed tomography.

Measurement of gas exchange helps to determine the presence and degree of respiratory failure. Cardiac complications are also possible. Only after a comprehensive examination can confirm the diagnosis, identify or predict complications and choose the right treatment.

Quitting bad habits

Passive inhalation of cigarette smoke, though rare, can also lead to COPD. But smoking is not the only reason. Less commonly, the disease is provoked by occupational hazards, air pollution or residential premises. A risk factor may be a violation of the development of the lungs in utero and childhood, bronchial asthma and bronchial hyperreactivity.

COPD treatment begins with smoking cessation or stopping exposure to other substances that enter the lungs. This alleviates the symptoms of the disease, slows down its progression and prolongs life.

If a person is unable to quit smoking on their own, drug support based on nicotine replacement therapy will help. With the help of patches, chewing gum or a mouthpiece, the alkaloid is directly introduced into the body, thereby relieving the patient from exposure to the harmful components of tobacco smoke. In the future, the dose of nicotine is gradually reduced up to cancellation. Such treatment requires medical advice and supervision.

In addition, annual influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations are recommended for all patients with COPD to reduce the risk of exacerbations.

Treatment

Starting to lead a correct lifestyle and forget about the disease will not work. Unfortunately, the course of COPD has a steadily progressive character. As a rule, over time, the patient is waiting for disability. You can only slow down the development of the disease, but it is impossible to completely stop it.

The mainstay of COPD drug treatment is bronchodilators. Usually, a powder or aerosol inhaler is recommended to the patient, which is used as an ambulance. Its action lasts 12 or 24 hours. Depending on how severe the symptoms of the disease are, the doctor may prescribe not one, but two of these drugs, as well as inhaled hormones – in some forms of COPD, they have an additional effect. Sometimes there is a need to use special anti-inflammatory drugs that affect sputum, as well as antioxidants and antibiotics in a special regimen.

The course of the disease in different patients depends on many factors, such as the presence of comorbidities, adherence to treatment, reduction of external threats to the development and progression of the disease.

A person diagnosed with COPD needs to move. But the load must be feasible, affordable. It is recommended to train twice a week on a treadmill or bicycle ergometer, as well as exercise with light dumbbells. In addition, you should take daily walks, trying to walk as much as shortness of breath and general condition allows – an average of about three to four kilometers. Such exercises increase physical tone and reduce the degree of shortness of breath.

Associated problems

Exacerbation of COPD is one of the most common reasons for COPD patients to seek emergency care. The condition is characterized by a worsening of respiratory symptoms beyond their normal daily fluctuations. In this case, it is necessary to change the mode of therapy used.

The development of exacerbations is a characteristic feature of the course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. People experience a long – up to several weeks – deterioration in respiratory function and gas exchange. At this time, the quality of life drops significantly. In the first five days from the onset of an attack, the risk of developing acute myocardial infarction more than doubles.

Since COPD usually develops in men and women of middle age with a long history of smoking, the situation is often complicated by various pathologies associated with both bad habits and age. The disease is often associated with cardiovascular disease, skeletal muscle dysfunction, osteoporosis, lung cancer, and depression. Recently, a new coronavirus infection can also be added to this list. Infection of a COPD patient with COVID-19 is fraught with great danger to his life. The reserve capacity of the lungs is already reduced, and comorbidities and malnutrition – cachexia – increase the threat.

Prevention of COPD

– Smoking cessation.

— Reducing the impact of harmful factors of production and the environment (dust, acid and alkali vapors, other chemical particles contained in the air, combustion products of bioorganic fuel).

– Adequate physical activity: walking at a moderate pace, swimming, breathing exercises.

– Vaccination against influenza and pneumococcal infections. It is necessary to prevent diseases that provoke an exacerbation of COPD. The optimal time for the introduction of the vaccine is October – mid-November. In the future, the efficiency decreases significantly.