Prognosis of severe copd: COPD Life Expectancy – Global Allergy & Airways Patient Platform

11.02.202309.06.2023 by alexxlab

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COPD Life Expectancy – Global Allergy & Airways Patient Platform

If you have COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) yourself or if you are caring for someone who does, maybe you are concerned about life expectancy.

COPD is a chronic lung disease that gets worse over time. Unfortunately, there is no cure for COPD. However, there are treatments that can help to slow down the speed at which the symptoms get worse. Thus, these treatments can improve the quality of life of patients. As with other diseases, experts use different methods to predict how long you might live with COPD.

How is COPD life expectancy determined?

The life expectancy of COPD patients varies greatly because many different factors are involved. For example, some factors are your individual symptoms, your age, your health, and how you rank in the GOLD system. Another important factor is whether you have smoked during your life and, if so, for how long.

In order to assess the severity of COPD, doctors use the Global Initiative on Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) system. Specifically, this system uses a forced expiratory volume (FEV1) test to see how much air you can forcefully breathe out in one second after blowing into a spirometer.

According to the GOLD system, there are four stages of COPD:

Mild COPD = GOLD 1 (More than or equal to 80% FEV1)
Moderate COPD = GOLD 2 (50-80% FEV1)
Severe COPD = GOLD 3 (20-50% FEV1)
Very severe COPD = GOLD 4 (Less than 30% FEV1)

In addition, the GOLD system also considers other factors such as your specific breathing problems and the number of flare-ups you tend to have. Ultimately, the higher your score on the GOLD scale, the lower your COPD life expectancy is likely to be.

What is the COPD BODE scale?

Another scale that’s often used in combination with GOLD is the BODE scale. BODE stands for body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea (breathlessness), and exercise capacity. Specifically, this scale looks at how your COPD affects your life and how you score on different factors, including:

BMI (body mass index) – as having COPD can cause problems with weight management
Breathing difficulty level – this shows how much trouble you have with your breathing
Exercise capacity – a measure of how far you’re able to walk in six minutes, which shows how much physical activity you can manage
Airflow blockage – the BODE scale also takes into account the results from FEV1 and other lung function tests to assess how much your airflow is blocked.

When all the factors have been considered, you end up with a BODE score of between 0 and 10. People who score 10 have the worst symptoms and are likely to have a shorter life expectancy.

Even though assessment tools for COPD are useful and can help to indicate a likely life expectancy, it’s important to remember that they’re only an estimate.

Is COPD considered a terminal illness?

COPD is not a terminal illness but a chronic disease that gets worse over time . Although there is no cure for COPD, the illness can be successfully managed especially if it’s recognized early.

Studies have shown that the rate at which the lung function of COPD patients decreases can be reduced if a diagnosis is made in the early stages of the disease and if medical treatment starts without delay. Furthermore, lifestyle changes can slow down the speed at which COPD symptoms get worse. For example, one study found that stopping smoking after a COPD diagnosis delayed the worsening of the disease. Even though this was the case at all stages of COPD, earlier actions had the biggest impact.

Can you live 10 or 20 years with COPD?

The exact length of time you can live with COPD depends on your age, health, and symptoms. Especially if your COPD is diagnosed early, if you have mild stage COPD, and your disease is well managed and controlled, you may be able to live for 10 or even 20 years after diagnosis. For example, one study found that people who were diagnosed with mild stage COPD, or GOLD stage 1, had no shorter life expectancy than healthy people.

This is especially so if you don’t smoke: Other research has found that life expectancy with COPD is reduced further for past and current smokers.

People with severe stage COPD, lose about eight to nine years of life expectancy on average .

What can help improve COPD life expectancy?

Quitting smoking can have a positive effect on your life expectancy if you are a smoker and have COPD. For instance, numerous studies suggest that smokers with GOLD stage 1 or 2 (mild and moderate) COPD lose a few years of life expectancy at the age of 65. In addition, it has been shown by studies that people with stages 3 or 4 (severe and very severe) COPD lose from six to nine years of life expectancy because of smoking. Notably, this loss of life expectancy is in addition to the four years of life lost by anyone who smokes.

If you’ve never smoked, you can help yourself by making sure your symptoms are managed well and that you have regular check-ups. For example, routine blood checks can help control inflammation and may help to pick up on potential issues before they worsen.

Simple lifestyle changes such as losing weight, eating healthily, and exercising safely, when possible, can also help you to maintain a good quality of life.

For prople with severe COPD, treatments such as oxygen therapy, lung volume reduction surgery and lung transplants may also help to increase life expectancy.

How do most COPD patients die?

With COPD, everyone’s situation and health are individual and unique and there is no one way to say how patients may die. However, some research has found that for people with mild COPD, the causes of death are often cardiovascular diseases.

In contrast, in cases of severe COPD, research has shown that major causes of death include heart failure, respiratory failure, lung infection, lung embolism, heart arrhythmia, and lung cancer.

While it’s good to stay positive and not focus on dying, if your condition gets worse and becomes very serious, it’s likely that your doctor or nurse will mention palliative and end-of-life care. Moreover, discussing your situation with your family doctor can help you make decisions and take care of your physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. As palliative care is both patient and family-centered, it can help prevent and relieve suffering.

At GAAPP, we want to empower patients because everyone deserves to live freely without their symptoms interfering with their lives. Find out more about our Patient Charter here.

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COPD Prognosis: What You Should Know

Written by Camille Noe Pagán

Talk to Your Doctor About What to Expect
Follow Your Treatment Plan
Eat Well and Exercise
Don’t Go It Alone
Consider Palliative Care

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you might be wondering what comes next. COPD is a chronic disease, which means you’ll have some symptoms for the rest of your life. It usually worsens slowly and in time can make it harder to breathe and do your usual activities. Talking with your doctor is the best way to understand what to expect.

But no matter how advanced your COPD is, there’s a lot you can do to feel better and live longer. Here’s what can help.

Your first step is to make sure you understand which stage of COPD you have. Ask your doctor about your diagnosis and what that may mean for your health now in the future. There are four stages of COPD:

Stage 1, which is early (or mild) COPD. Many people with stage 1 don’t even realize they have COPD. You might notice you’re coughing more than usual and/or making more mucus. Your doctor will recommend you quit smoking if you currently smoke, and make other lifestyle changes to improve your breathing now and later down the line.

Stage 2 is also considered mild COPD. You might have symptoms like a chronic cough, mucus, and shortness of breath. In addition to lifestyle changes and breathing exercises, your doctor might recommend you use certain medications to improve your breathing and lung function.

Stage 3 is severe COPD. Your lung function won’t be as good as before, and symptoms like coughing and breathing trouble will be more consistent and severe. Your doctor will recommend you use medications and possibly oxygen therapy to manage your COPD.

Stage 4 is very severe COPD. You’ll likely have breathing trouble even from a little activity. When your symptoms flare, you may have dangerously low oxygen levels and need to go to the hospital. Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove part of your lung(s), and if necessarily, a lung transplant.

Keep in mind that every person with COPD is different. Two people can have the same stage of COPD, but their symptoms may not worsen at the same speed. Some of that has to do with genetics and past habits, like how fit you are and whether you smoked. But a lot of it depends on what you do now and in the future.

It’s important to start treatment as soon as you’re diagnosed and stick with it. Treatment can help you breathe easier and may help prevent COPD from getting worse.

Along with your COPD medications, your doctor may recommend:

Quit smoking. If you smoke, this should be a top priority. Even if you’ve tried before, don’t give up. Ask your doctor what could help you kick the habit for good, such as nicotine replacement and support groups or quit-smoking programs. You should also avoid other people’s tobacco smoke and other things that can irritate your lungs.

Vaccinations. These include getting a flu vaccine every year, and stay up to date with your COVID-19 boosters and pneumococcal vaccines. Your doctor can let you know what vaccines you need to get, and when.

Pulmonary rehabilitation. This is a program that teaches you breathing techniques and other ways to manage your condition. It may also teach you how to exercise or quit smoking. Pulmonary rehabilitation can make it easier for you to stay active and make you less likely to be hospitalized for COPD. It’s an outpatient program, which means you’ll live at home during pulmonary rehab.

Supplemental oxygen. COPD can reduce the amount of oxygen in your blood. You may need to use a machine to get enough oxygen to stay healthy.

Lung surgery, such as lung volume reduction surgery or a lung transplant, may be something your doctor considers if other treatments haven’t helped you and if you’re healthy enough for the operation.

The closer you follow your treatment plan, the better you’ll be able to manage your COPD symptoms.

If you have COPD, these lifestyle habits are especially important. Keeping a healthy weight and staying active and strong makes it easier to breathe. And a balanced diet gives your body nutrients it needs to fight infection and protect your lungs.

Your doctor may recommend that you meet with a dietitian to learn more about nutrition and how to reach a healthy weight. They may also recommend pulmonary rehabilitation and/or meeting with a physical therapist to learn how to exercise safely and comfortably.

Having a chronic condition can take a toll on your emotions. Many people with COPD feel sad and anxious about it at some point. It’s important to get support. Talk with your friends and family, as well as your health care team. Let them know if you are feeling down or anxious. Your doctor may refer you to social workers, counselors, or psychiatrists who can help you manage the way you think about your condition, which can help you feel better.

Support groups are another resource. Connecting with others who have COPD, can help you feel less alone and may give you new ideas about living with COPD. The American Lung Association offers in-person and virtual support groups and a help line that has resources for people with COPD.

Palliative care is not just about end-of-life care. It’s for anyone with a serious illness, including COPD, at any stage.

Along with your regular COPD treatment, palliative care includes your mental health and any emotional, social, or spiritual issues that are on your mind. For instance, it might address anxiety, since untreated anxiety can make it harder to breathe. You can talk to your doctor about including palliative care in your treatment plan.

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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbation – Prognosis

This section is available free of charge

The severity of illness in people with COPD is very variable. For example, the severity of an aggravation can range from very mild to severe and deadly. Severe pathology and mortality of people with COPD most often occurs against the background of an exacerbation. Older studies have estimated the mortality rate in patients hospitalized for an exacerbation to be between 4% and 30%. Studies using data from the National Sample of Hospital Patients available since 1996 (Office of Research and Quality in Health Care, Rockville, Maryland, USA), defines the overall mortality of patients with an exacerbation during hospital stay as 2.5%.[246]Patil SP, Krishnan JA, Lechtzin N, et al . In-hospital mortality following acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Arch Intern Med. 2003 May 26;163(10):1180-6.
https://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/163/10/1180

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12767954?tool=bestpractice.com
In this study, the average length of hospital stay was 5 days, and 70% of patients were discharged home without additional home health services. People who died in the hospital were older, had more comorbidities and were hospitalized for a long time. Not surprisingly, mechanically ventilated patients had a higher mortality rate compared to those who were not (28% versus 1.7%). Another study found approximately 50% mortality 5 years after hospitalization for a COPD exacerbation.[247] Hoogendoorn M, Hoogenveen RT, Rutten-van Mölken MP, et al. Case fatality of COPD exacerbations: a meta-analysis and statistical modeling approach. Eur Respir J. 2011 Mar;37(3):508-15.
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20595157?tool=bestpractice.com
Readmissions and mortality were associated with lower FEV1, higher carbon dioxide partial pressure, lower oxygen partial pressure, more than grade II on the APACHE (Acute Physiological Disorders and Chronic Functional Changes Assessment) scale, lower body mass index, advanced age, comorbidities, and physical inactivity.[212]Breen D, Churches T, Hawker F, et al. Acute respiratory failure secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treated in the intensive care unit: a long term follow up study. Thorax. Jan 2002;57(1):29-33.
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11809986?tool=bestpractice.com
[248] Dewan NA, Rafique S, Kanwar B, et al. Acute exacerbation of COPD: factors associated with poor treatment outcome. Chest. 2000 Mar;117(3):662-71.
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[249] Gunen H, Hacievliyagil SS, Kosar F, et al. Factors affecting survival of hospitalized patients with COPD. Eur Respir J. 2005 Aug;26(2):234-41.
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[250] Garcia-Aymerich J, Farrero E, Felez MA, et al. Risk factors of readmission to hospital for a COPD exacerbation: a prospective study. Thorax. 2003 Feb;58(2):100-5.
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http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12554887?tool=bestpractice.com
[251] Garcia-Aymerich J, Lange P, Benet M, et al. Regular physical activity reduces hospital admission and mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a population based cohort study. Thorax. 2006 Sep;61(9)):772-8.
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[252] Piquet J, Chavaillon JM, David P, et al. High-risk patients following hospitalization for an acute exacerbation of COPD. Eur Respir J. 2013 Oct;42(4):946-55.
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The multivariate CODEX score (comorbidities, obstruction, dyspnea, previous exacerbations) predicts readmissions and survival at 3 months and 1 year after a COPD exacerbation.[254]Almagro P, Soriano JB, Cabrera FJ, et al. Short- and medium-term prognosis in patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbation: the CODEX index. Chest. May 2014;145(5):972-80.
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Life Expectancy COPD – Global Platform for Allergy & Respiratory Patients

If you have COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) or are caring for someone who cares for him, you may be worried about life expectancy.

COPD is a chronic lung disease that worsens over time. Unfortunately, there is no cure for COPD. However, there are treatments that can help reduce the rate at which symptoms worsen. Therefore, these therapies can improve the quality of life of patients. As with other diseases, experts use different methods to predict how long you can live with COPD.

How is life expectancy determined in COPD?

The life expectancy of patients with COPD varies greatly due to many different factors. For example, some factors are up to you. Symptoms, your age, your health and your place in the GOLD system. Another important factor is whether you smoked during your life and if so, for how long.

Doctors use the Global Initiative on Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) system to assess the severity of COPD. Specifically, this system uses the Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV1) test to find out how much air you can forcefully exhale in one second after blowing into the spirometer.

There are four stages of COPD in the GOLD system:

mild COPD = GOLD 1 (greater than or equal to 80% FEV1)
Moderate COPD = GOLD 2 (50-80% FEV1)
Severe COPD = GOLD 3 (20-50% FEV1)
Very severe COPD = GOLD 4 (less than 30% FEV1)

In addition, the GOLD system also takes into account other factors such as your specific breathing problems and the number of flare-ups you typically have. Ultimately, the higher your GOLD score, the lower your COPD life expectancy will be.