ABC of COPD (ABC)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common problem encountered in both primary and secondary care and contributes to a substantial workload for medical practitioners in district general hospitals, teaching hospitals (about 10% of hospital admission) and the community. COPD treatment frequently involves a number of multidisciplinary team members; this series of articles would be of interest to a large number of individuals. The ABC of COPD provides easily accessible, reliable information outlining the aetiology, natural history, diagnosis and current evidence based management of COPD. Treatment recommendations are based on NICE guidelines published in 2004 for the management of COPD. Definition, Epidemiology, And Risk Factors / Graham Devereux -- Pathology, Pathogenesis, And Pathophysiology / William Macnee -- Diagnosis / Graeme P. Currie, Joe S. Legge -- Smoking Cessation / Prasima Srivastava, Graeme P. Currie, John Britton -- Non-pharmacological Management / Graeme P. Currie, J. Graham Douglas -- Pharmacological Management: Inhaled Treatment / Graeme P. Currie, Brian J. Lipworth -- Pharmacological Management: Oral Treatment / Graeme P. Currie, Daniel K.c. Lee, Brian J. Lipworth -- Oxygen And Inhalers / Graeme P. Currie, J. Graham Douglas -- Acute Exacerbations / Graeme P. Currie, Jadwiga A. Wedzicha -- Ventilatory Support / Gordon Christie, Graeme P. Currie, Paul Plant -- Primary Care And Palliative Care / Daryl Freeman, David Price -- Future Treatments / Peter J. Barnes. Edited By Graeme P. Currie. Bmj Books. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic, largely irreversible condition characterised by progressive airflow obstruction and mostly caused by cigarette smoking. The ABC of COPD is a new guide based on best evidence to its diagnosis, effects, holistic management and contains everything the non-specialist needs to know. Chapters include: Diagnosis, Smoking cessation, Non-pharmacological management, Pharmacological management, Management of acute exacerbations, Ventilatory support, Primary and palliative care issues This practical, concise, and well illustrated introduction to COPD will be an invaluable guide to general practitioners, nurses, junior doctors and other paramedical staff who may be treating patients with this often devastating lung condition. Definition, epidemiology, and risk factors / Graham Devereux Pathology, pathogenesis, and pathophysiology / William MacNee Diagnosis / Graeme P. Currie, Joe S. Legge Smoking cessation / Prasima Srivastava, Graeme P. Currie, John Britton Non-pharmacological management / Graeme P. Currie, J. Graham Douglas Pharmacological management: inhaled treatment / Graeme P. Currie, Brian J. Lipworth Pharmacological management: oral treatment / Graeme P. Currie, Daniel K.C. Lee, Brian J. Lipworth Oxygen and inhalers / Graeme P. Currie and J. Graham Douglas Acute exacerbations / Graeme P. Currie, Jadwiga A. Wedzicha Ventilatory support / Gordon Christie, Graeme P. Currie, Paul Plant Primary care and palliative care / Daryl Freeman, David Price Future treatments / Peter J. Barnes. This material is a guide based on evidence to diagnosis, effects, holistic management and contains everything the non-specialist need to know