Image shows a 16 weeks post-conception human fetal lung. The branching airway tree is surrounded by bands of developing smooth muscle (green), which also labels the developing vasculature.

On 9 March 2023, the National Asthma and COPD Audit Programme (NACAP) launched its 2018/20 clinical outcomes summary report.

This issue of Primary Care Respiratory Update takes a look at the past, the present and the future.

This edition sees a focus on antibiotics – a hardy perennial topic that requires regular re-visitation. Whether for respiratory infections or as part of rescue pack use, the practical guidance given, together with the views of patients, aims to support your decision-making in practice.

The one-minute sit to stand test (1-MSTST) has become the test of choice during the pandemic for measuring exercise capacity, both at in-person and virtual appointments due to the inability to conduct robust six minute or incremental / endurance shuttle walk tests (6MWT/ ISWT/ ESWT).

In this article we review the major changes in the 2023 GOLD report as they impact on the initial and ongoing pharmacological management of COPD and consider the implications for primary care in the UK.

This issue of PCRU introduces our latest pragmatic guide on severe asthma which guides you through this process ensuring the right patients end up in the right place with the right care.

To mark World COPD Day we have recorded a special podcast exploring the topic of Exacerbations in COPD. Featuring Dr.

Historically, clinical decision rules have been used to guide antibiotic prescribing for patients presenting with signs and symptoms that indicate possible RTIs or infectious exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (IE-COPD).

Can Only Plan Daily - COPD is a serious disease needing the right diagnosis and treatment with the person’s need sitting front and centre.

In this webinar, PCRS leads Carol Stonham, Darush Attar-Zadeh and Dr Steve Holmes will explore, through a series of case histories shared by members, how we can challenge the old negative perceptions of COPD and show how lives can be transformed with the right advice with:

In this short episode Jane Scullion and Dr Steve Holmes discuss the use of rescue packs in asthma and COPD.  They challenge current views and perceptions on the use of rescue packs and explore the evidence around their use.  

Dr Steve Holmes and Jane Scullion discuss the challenges of diagnosing COPD in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic.They explore how can we best pick up those patients who have developed COPD, should we be using spirometry?Grab a coffee, put your feet up and listen in.

Following on from their discussions around risk stratification in Asthma, in this PCRS podcast Jane Scullion and Steve Holmes explore risk stratification in COPD and highlight the red flags that might make you think that somebody with COPD is at risk.