Rescue packs for COPD: problem or panacea?

Exacerbations of COPD require additional acute treatment. Beverley Bostockdiscusses the rationale for offering rescue packs as part of patient self-managementFor many people who have been diagnosed with COPD, there is a risk of experiencing an exacerbation of their symptoms which will require additional acute treatment to supplement their usual therapy. Exacerbations of COPD are associated with reduced quality of life, loss of lung function and a higher risk of dying. People living with COPD may be advised to keep a ‘rescue pack’ of oral corticosteroids and antibiotics to start if they develop symptoms of an exacerbation. Patient education should include advice on how to recognise exacerbations and when and how to treat them, with information about the effects and side-effects of any medication.