COPD & Heart Failure
September 30 @ 12:45 pm – 2:00 pm
Breathlessness is one of the most common and challenging symptoms encountered in primary care, yet distinguishing between respiratory and cardiac causes is not always straightforward. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Heart Failure frequently co-exist, share many of the same risk factors, and often present with overlapping symptoms such as dyspnoea, fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, and cough.
This session aims to explore the important relationship between COPD and heart failure, highlighting why clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for both conditions when assessing breathlessness. We will discuss the similarities and differences in presentation, the shared pathophysiology and risk factors, and the impact that co-existing disease has on outcomes.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss what is meant by the term ‘heart failure’
- Describe the shared risk factors and pathophysiology of COPD and heart failure
- Differentiate between the symptoms of COPD and heart failure
- Explain the impact that both conditions have on disease progression and outcomes when they co-exist
- Identify key investigations that may be used in diagnosis of these conditions and discuss the limitations of these in primary care
- Discuss the key management principles for a patient with COPD and heart failure
Guest Speaker: Michelle Treasure, Dragon Respiratory Training Academy
