Activity description

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is common and frequently underdiagnosed. When detected early, guideline-directed treatment can slow disease progression, reduce exacerbations, ER visits, and hospitalizations, and meaningfully improve quality of life.  This session will focus on the importance of early detection and explore evidence-based recommendations for COPD case finding, diagnosis, and management. Participants will gain insight into the rationale behind targeted case finding, as outlined in the 2026 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) report. Key diagnostic considerations, including the spirometric criteria required to establish a diagnosis of COPD, will be reviewed, along with a comprehensive overview of COPD management. Management strategies will include non-pharmacologic interventions, initial and follow-up pharmacologic treatment, exacerbation management, and care considerations for patients with advanced disease. 

This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, nurses and healthcare professionals who are interested in COPD case-finding, diagnosis, and management. It supports interprofessional communication by aligning physicians, advanced practice clinicians and nurses around shared approaches to COPD case-finding and management.

Module 1: Case Finding
At the end of this educational activity, participants should be able to:

• Describe the importance of early detection of COPD in improving patient outcomes and reducing disease-related morbidity.
• Identify patients appropriate for targeted COPD case finding based on clinical risk factors and symptoms.
• Apply recommended case finding questionnaires and determine appropriate next steps following a positive screening result. 

Module 2: Diagnosis
At the end of this educational activity, participants should be able to:

• Describe spirometric criteria required to establish a diagnosis of COPD.
• Apply guideline supported diagnostic pathways following pre  and post bronchodilator spirometry results.
• Identify initial clinical assessments recommended for patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD.

Module 3: Management
At the end of this educational activity, participants should be able to:

• Describe key components of comprehensive COPD management, including nonpharmacologic strategies and patient education.
• Select appropriate initial and follow up pharmacologic therapies based on symptom burden and exacerbation risk.
• Determine when additional management strategies or specialist co management are indicated to optimize patient care.
   

Provided by
This activity is provided by Optum Health Education and Optum Health.

Commercial support
No commercial support was received for this activity.

Hardware/Software Requirements
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