Stopping smoking

Stopping smoking is the single most important intervention that can be made, regardless of disease severity. In fact, on average, each smoker who manages to stay off tobacco
for the rest of their life gains 3.6 life years.  

Smoking cessation interventions are four times more effective if they include counselling support, and can achieve long-term quit rates of up to 25 per cent. 

Pulmonary rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation is defined by NICE as €a multidisciplinary programme of care for patients with chronic respiratory impairment that is individually tailored and designed to optimise the individual's physical and social performance and autonomy.€

After pulmonary rehabilitation, patients should be able to handle breathlessness better, feel more in control of their condition and gain more self confidence. Pulmonary rehabilitation has been shown to reduce the three-month readmission rate in COPD patients from 33 per cent to seven per cent.

Immunisation

Many exacerbations of COPD are caused by viral and bacterial infection. Unless contraindicated, all patients with COPD should have pneumococcal and influenza immunisations. COPD patients are an at-risk patient group to target for the community pharmacy flu vaccination service.