PCRS marks World COPD Day 2024

We are pleased to mark World COPD Day with an introductory webinar on the new COPD risk slider*. We are also highlighting our COPD resources including animations, position statement and podcasts.

World COPD Day, 20th November, is an annual global initiative run by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), which is a member of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS). World COPD Day aims to raise awareness and present new knowledge and novel therapeutic strategies for COPD worldwide.

New COPD risk slider

Taking place today, our introductory slider webinar is fully subscribed. If you didn't register to join us live this evening (20th November) you can watch the recording on demand 48 hours after broadcast via this link.

The new COPD risk slider is a tool that can be used to assess exacerbation risk in your COPD patients in a normal 10-20 minute consultation. It will support you to:

• assess your COPD patients for risk of potential
• worsening of symptoms/exacerbations,
• initiate conversations with your patients about their COPD,
• make informed decisions on treatment and medication, and
• provide effective, and tailored, information and advice and guidance to reduce any exacerbation risk identified.

The risk slider will launch later this month and will be available via the PCRS website.

Know your lung function - spirometry resources

The 2024 theme for World COPD Day is 'Know Your Lung Function', which aims to highlight the importance of measuring lung function, also known as spirometry. Although spirometry is an integral tool for diagnosing COPD, it can also be used to measure lung health throughout life. Measuring lung function throughout life can provide opportunities for early diagnosis and prompt treatment of multiple lung diseases, including COPD.

We have gathered useful PCRS-produced resources on spirometry - click on a resource to explore this topic further:

• PCRU Article: Spirometry in primary care following the COVID-19 Pandemic 
• PCRS Position Statement: Spirometry
• Member-only podcast 🔒: Diagnosis of COPD. Dr Steve Holmes and Jane Scullion discuss the challenges of diagnosing COPD in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic. 

Challenging Perceptions of COPD

Animations

This three part animation series** provides a concise guide which healthcare professionals can use to support people with COPD to remain active and healthy, understand that 'flare-ups' of their COPD are not normal and they need to seek help, and stop smoking.

• Movement for health: Keeping physically active is hugely important for anyone, but particularly for individuals with respiratory conditions. Those living with COPD must understand and prioritise exercise and general wellbeing from the outset. Watch now.
• It's not just another flare up: Exacerbations, or 'flare-ups', can be common occurrences for some individuals with COPD. People with COPD must know these are not normal, and they need to seek help promptly.  Watch animation.
• It's never too late to quit: Smoking is the primary cause of COPD. Supporting individuals with COPD to stop smoking in a supportive and considerate way is crucial to prevent any further damage to their lungs. Watch now.

Webinar

This webinar** focused on smoking, movement for health and COPD exacerbations. The session provides a clear and concise update on the management of COPD, and provide you with some essential information and knowledge to ensure your COPD patients continue to experience best practice COPD care.

Watch on demand.

Tune into our COPD podcasts

PCRS members have exclusive access to our podcast series that explores respiratory hot topics. In addition to our podcast on spirometry, members can tune in to learn about:

• Risk Stratification: Help with COPD reviews
• COPD and co-morbidities
• COPD reviews: A conversation between a healthcare professional and a patient

Browse podcasts.

For a taste of our podcast series, listen to our open-access episodes on:

• Lung Volume Reduction for COPD***
• Exacerbations in COPD

*We are grateful to have collaborated with Astra Zeneca Ltd on the production of this new COPD slider.

**We are grateful to AstraZeneca UK Limited for the provision of an educational grant to develop these resources. They have been developed by PCRS, and AstraZeneca has had no input into the development, content or production of this material.

***Thank you to our podcast sponsors Pulmonx Ltd. This podcast has been instigated and organised by PCRS. The support from the sponsor Pulmonx Ltd has allowed us to provide this valuable educational resource free of charge to all listeners. The sponsor has had no input into the agenda or the selection of speakers.