| Summary: | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide, affecting an estimated 1.2 million people in the UK. The most common cause is tobacco smoke. Patients with COPD experience a high symptom burden, worsened during periods of disease instability (termed exacerbations or ‘lung attacks’). Diagnosis requires clinical, laboratory and functional assessment to tailor treatments towards symptoms and exacerbation risk. To date, smoking cessation is the single most important intervention in delaying disease progression and should be a focus at every patient interaction. Diagnosing and managing co-morbidities is also an important part of managing a patient with COPD. COPD is managed using a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, including pulmonary rehabilitation and self-management plans, allowing control over some of the symptom burden and a reduction in exacerbations. Holistic management of COPD requires effective communication between all those involved in patient care, crossing secondary and primary care boundaries. At all stages a multidisciplinary approach should be adopted to manage this chronic lung disease.
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