Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Post-acute/Long-term Care Settings: Seizing Opportunities to Individualize Treatment and Device Selection

IntroductionThe burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in post-acute/long-term care (PA/LTC) settings is high, and many patients do not receive guideline-recommended care.MethodsAn interprofessional expert panel of PA/LTC professionals convened to discuss the unmet medical needs in patients with COPD in PA/LTC settings, and to make recommendations for the assessment of COPD patients to individualize the selection of maintenance treatment.ResultsUnmet needs observed in patients with COPD are described in addition to new tools for assessing individual patient abilities and appropriate device selection for maintenance treatment.ConclusionCOPD management in PA/LTC settings needs to be reevaluated and updated to help reduce exacerbations, hospitalizations, and readmissions.