Analyze and describe the pathophysiology of the disease process and discuss the evidence-based pharmacological treatments in your state and how they affect the management of the disease in your community. Discuss the clinical guidelines for assessment, diagnosis, and patient education for the disease process. Analyze how the disease process affects patients, families, and populations in communities. Discuss briefly three strategies you could use to implement best practices for managing the disease in your current healthcare organization

 Analyze and describe the pathophysiology of the disease process and discuss the evidence-based pharmacological treatments in your state and how they affect the management of the disease in your community. Discuss the clinical guidelines for assessment, diagnosis, and patient education for the disease process. Analyze how the disease process affects patients, families, and populations in communities. Discuss briefly three strategies you could use to implement best practices for managing the disease in your current healthcare organization

 Analyze and describe the pathophysiology of the disease process and discuss the evidence-based pharmacological treatments in your state and how they affect the management of the disease in your community. Discuss the clinical guidelines for assessment, diagnosis, and patient education for the disease process. Analyze how the disease process affects patients, families, and populations in communities. Discuss briefly three strategies you could use to implement best practices for managing the disease in your current healthcare organization

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

            Non-communicable illnesses which have been on the rise in the recent past are associated with long-term health complications in addition to economic impacts. Among the respiratory illnesses that have been of concern is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) whose rise has been regarded to be due to increased exposure to cigarette smoke and industrial smoke (Choi & Rhee, 2020). The condition affects approximately 7-19% of the world population which is 250m worldwide population with 30 million patients in the United States (US) and with $49.0 billion spent on patient management annually in the US alone (Iheanacho et al., 2020). These impacts of COPD can be managed when preventive measures are adopted and emphasized on through patient education offered by the nurses. The objective of this paper is to discuss COPD including its pathophysiology, assessment, and diagnosis, pharmacological management strategies as well as its impacts and management strategies to be implemented in a healthcare organization.

ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE ON; Analyze and describe the pathophysiology of the disease process and discuss the evidence-based pharmacological treatments in your state and how they affect the management of the disease in your community. Discuss the clinical guidelines for assessment, diagnosis, and patient education for the disease process. Analyze how the disease process affects patients, families, and populations in communities. Discuss briefly three strategies you could use to implement best practices for managing the disease in your current healthcare organization

Pathophysiology of the Disease Process and the Evidence-Based Pharmacological Treatments

Pathophysiology

            Different factors contribute to the pathologic changes that are identified in COPD. Chronic injury to the airways, bronchioles, and lungs and the abnormal reaction toward such injuries are the roots of such pathophysiology with exposure to cigarette smoke accounting for most of the conditions (Hikichi et al., 2019). Other factors include airway hyperresponsiveness, air pollution, and immunosuppression. After exposure to cigarette smoke, injury to the lung with inflammatory reaction includes an influx of inflammatory cells such as macrophages which would secrete different substances including elastases, proteinases, and macrophage-derived matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). These released substances may overwhelm the counteraction system of antiproteases and metalloprotease inhibitors, therefore, translating to increased damage to the airways, bronchioles, and lungs (Leap et al., 2021).

Due to this underlying damage, individuals who are predisposed to developing COPD such as those with alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency who are predisposed to developing emphysema or those who are chronic cigarette smokers will then have COPD (Iheanacho et al., 2020). Cigarette smoking also contributes to the damage by increasing the free radicals that also worsen the injury to the respiratory structures by increased oxidative stress. The damage causes narrowing of the airway and bronchioles which is responsible for the patient presentation including chronic cough, breathlessness, wheezing, cyanosis, and respiratory distress (Hikichi et al., 2019). Managing the damage may therefore help in addressing the patient presentation.

Evidence-Based Pharmacological Treatments

The damage to the airway structures leads to non-reversible airway obstruction. There is a stepwise approach to the management of patients with COPD. Those with shortness of breath with during exercise are usually managed using short-acting beta₂ agonists (SABA) or short-acting muscarinic antagonists that are administered as required during exacerbations (Pires et al., 2019). Choi & Rhee (2020), recommends that patients with persistent exacerbations be managed by combinations of long-acting beta₂ agonists and long-acting muscarinic antagonists. However, combination with inhaled corticosteroids is discouraged due to adverse events unless the patient has exacerbations when using the combinations of long-acting beta₂ agonists and long-acting muscarinic antagonists (Pires et al., 2019). The beta₂ agonists and muscarinic antagonists are effective for patient management because they help in relaxation of the airway smooth muscles thus helping in reversing bronchoconstriction. The corticosteroids however also help in reducing inflammation in addition to bronchodilation although their adverse events include candidiasis and pharyngitis that limits their use (Iheanacho et al., 2020).

The use of combination therapy has more impact compared to single therapies. They minimize the risk of exacerbations and therefore reduce the rate of hospitalizations as well as the cost of care (Leap et al., 2021). These impacts the community by lessening the cost of care and improving the quality of life for the patients who will be able to engage in most activities without exacerbations.

Clinical Guidelines for Assessment, Diagnosis, and Patient Education

            The assessment of patients begins by inquiry of patient symptoms. These symptoms that are usually inquired of include chronic productive cough, breathlessness, and wheezing. Assessment tools that can be employed inquire about exertional dyspnea, dyspnea perception, and health-related quality of life and mood (Pires et al., 2019). To differentiate COPD from other chronic respiratory conditions, diagnostic tests can be employed.

Diagnosis of COPD is made using spirometry when the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second over forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) is found to be less than 70%. Other diagnostic tests help in determining the complications of COPD or other underlying conditions (Choi & Rhee, 2020). Tests such as arterial blood gas (ABG) and chest x-ray have been used for this purpose.

In addition to the pharmacotherapy that is employed, the patients should be educated to adopt strategies that will minimize the progress of COPD. During patient education, they should be encouraged to avoid cigarette smoking to reduce the trigger for inflammation and damage to the respiratory structures (Iheanacho et al., 2020). They should also be instructed to go for the required routine immunizations and ensure they adhere to drugs as prescribed to minimize the exacerbations.

Impacts of Disease on Patients, Families, and Populations in Communities

            COPD affects the patients, families, and even the community at large. Individuals with COPD may experience these symptoms when they engage in activities or physical exercises. To avoid these exacerbations, they tend to avoid activities thus their physical performance is compromised as a result of the condition (Hurst et al., 2020). Their sleep is also interfered with and they tend to develop hypertension and depression that may contribute to poor quality of life.

The families are equally affected by the condition. The emotional distress they sustain, the physical exhaustion due to involvement in caregiving as well as the financial drain are some of the impacts of the disease on the family (Leap et al., 2021). Family education would help to reduce the impact of the condition on the family by improving family preparedness for patient care.

The great disease burden is one of the impacts of the condition on the population. It accounts for 30 million cases in the US annually and is the third leading cause of death annually in addition to the $49.0 billion spent on patient management annually (Iheanacho et al., 2020). Prevention of COPD can help in saving the community from the great disease burden.

Healthcare Organization Strategies for Managing COPD

            Preventive strategies for COPD can be personal or hospital-based. The institution-based measures include increasing resource availability for COPD screening and diagnosis, training the healthcare professionals on the management of COPD, and incorporating patient education on COPD prevention and treatment (Vachon et al., 2022). These strategies can be implemented in the healthcare institution to help in early screening and diagnosis as well as prompt patient management to prevent the disease burden due to complications. The healthcare professionals will be adequately prepared for the patient care and the exacerbations will be prevented by drug adherence as enforced during patient education (Pires et al., 2019). These strategies can be adopted by the current healthcare organization to help in the effective management of the patient.

Conclusion

            In conclusion, COPD is a chronic respiratory condition that is associated with a great disease burden relating to the high cost of care, morbidity, and mortality. Contributory factors such as exposure to cigarette smoking initiate damage to the airway structures that then lead to the irreversible effects that are responsible for the patient’s manifestation. In addition to cessation of cigarette smoking, institution-based measures such as increasing resource availability, training healthcare workers, and improving patient education may be effective in the prevention of COPD and reduction of the disease burden.

References

Choi, J. Y., & Rhee, C. K. (2020). Diagnosis and treatment of early chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9(11), 3426. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9113426

Hikichi, M., Mizumura, K., Maruoka, S., & Gon, Y. (2019). Pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) induced by cigarette smoke. Journal of Thoracic Disease, 11(Suppl 17), S2129–S2140. https://doi.org/10.21037/jtd.2019.10.43

Hurst, J. R., Skolnik, N., Hansen, G. J., Anzueto, A., Donaldson, G. C., Dransfield, M. T., & Varghese, P. (2020). Understanding the impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations on patient health and quality of life. European Journal of Internal Medicine, 73, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2019.12.014

Iheanacho, I., Zhang, S., King, D., Rizzo, M., & Ismaila, A. S. (2020). Economic burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A systematic literature review. International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 15, 439–460. https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S234942

Leap, J., Arshad, O., Cheema, T., & Balaan, M. (2021). Pathophysiology of COPD. Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, 44(1), 2–8. https://doi.org/10.1097/CNQ.0000000000000334

Pires, N., Pinto, P., Marçal, N., Ferreira, A. J., Rodrigues, C., Bárbara, C., & GI DPOC Interest Group on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. (2019). Pharmacological treatment of COPD – New evidence. Pulmonology, 25(2), 90–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pulmoe.2018.10.005

Vachon, B., Giasson, G., Gaboury, I., Gaid, D., Noël De Tilly, V., Houle, L., Bourbeau, J., & Pomey, M.-P. (2022). Challenges and strategies for improving COPD primary care services in Quebec: Results of the experience of the COMPAS+ quality improvement collaborative. International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 17, 259–272. https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S341905

BUY A CUSTOM- PAPER HERE ON; Analyze and describe the pathophysiology of the disease process and discuss the evidence-based pharmacological treatments in your state and how they affect the management of the disease in your community. Discuss the clinical guidelines for assessment, diagnosis, and patient education for the disease process. Analyze how the disease process affects patients, families, and populations in communities. Discuss briefly three strategies you could use to implement best practices for managing the disease in your current healthcare organization

Week 5 Case Study Paper
Investigate the following disease processes: COPD.

1. Analyze and describe the pathophysiology of the disease process and discuss the evidence-based pharmacological treatments in your state and how they affect management of the disease in your community. (3/4 – 1 page)
2. Discuss the clinical guidelines for assessment, diagnosis, and patient education for the disease process. (3/4 – 1 page)
3. Analyze how the disease process affects patients, families, and populations in communities. (3/4 – 1 page)
4. Discuss briefly three strategies you could use to implement best practices for managing the disease in your current healthcare organization. (3/4 – 1 page)
The body of your paper needs to be 3-4 pages long.