Elevating COPD Management: Enhancing Treatment and Improving Patient Outcomes - Episode 14
Prioritizing Long-Term Control and Steroid Reduction in COPD
Panelists discuss the ongoing challenge of engaging patients, providers, and families in understanding the long-term risks of frequent oral corticosteroid use in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphasizing the importance of clear communication about serious adverse effects—including mental health and cardiovascular risks—and the role of electronic medical records in early intervention; they note that patients often feel well between exacerbations and may undervalue steroid-sparing strategies, so personalized education focusing on preventing future harm is key, and express optimism that new biologics offer promising options to reduce exacerbations and steroid dependence, highlighting the evolving, hopeful landscape of COPD care.
Engaging patients in understanding the importance of long-term COPD control and the risks of frequent oral corticosteroid use remains a significant challenge. It is critical to inform not only patients but also health care providers and families about the serious consequences of repeated steroid exposure, including increased exacerbations, hospitalizations, and even mortality. Beyond well-known adverse effects like weight gain, osteoporosis, and diabetes, steroids are also linked to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, as well as cardiovascular risks. Effective communication strategies, including leveraging electronic medical records to flag exacerbations early, may enable timely interventions and better patient outcomes.
A major difficulty lies in patients who feel well between exacerbations and therefore may not perceive the need for intensified treatment or steroid-sparing therapies. Many patients appreciate the immediate relief steroids provide during flare-ups, making it harder to convey the cumulative harm of repeated short courses over time. Personalizing education by discussing patients’ own experiences with steroid adverse effects—such as skin thinning or blood sugar issues—and framing treatment as prevention of future complications can help increase awareness. Emphasizing the goal of avoiding long-term damage may motivate patients to adhere more closely to maintenance therapies.
In closing, the panel expressed optimism about recent advances in COPD treatment, particularly the availability of new biologics that reduce exacerbations and steroid use. Although personalized approaches are still evolving, these therapies offer hope for patients who have struggled with frequent flare-ups. The clinicians highlighted the rewarding nature of seeing real improvements in patient lives and emphasized the importance of ongoing research to refine treatment selection. Overall, it is an exciting era for COPD care, marked by new tools and a growing understanding of the disease’s underlying biology.
