Current Evidence for the Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Live CME Program Presented in Partnership with the Washington State Pharmacy Association

Activity Overview

COPD is a preventable and treatable lung disease that the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates effects 210 million people worldwide. In 2005, more than 3 million people worldwide died from COPD. The number of patients diagnosed with COPD continues to rise each year, which makes COPD a major worldwide public health concern. By the year 2030, the WHO projects that COPD will become the third leading cause of death worldwide.

Pharmacists have a clear need for education on current COPD guidelines and management. Medications for COPD along with concurrent medications for co-morbid illnesses make polypharmacy the norm in COPD patients. Pharmacists who are educated about COPD treatment guidelines, knowledgeable about using FDA approved COPD and smoking cessation medications, and up-to-date on appropriate inhaler techniques can serve as vital resources for patients and their caregivers. Additionally, it is important that pharmacists have the latest scientific information on existing COPD agents to optimize outcomes in patients with COPD and to make informed formulary decisions.

Dates, Locations and Speakers

Date	Location	Speaker
Friday, November 5, 2010 Time TBA	Hilton – Vancouver, Washington 301 W. 6th Street Vancouver, WA 98660	Speaker TBA

Target Audience

Pharmacists

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, participants should be able to:

Discuss the epidemiology and pathophysiology of COPD.
Describe the role of the cholinergic system in the pathology of COPD.
Recognizes the stages of COPD and be able to identify the differences between COPD and asthma.
Discuss current guideline recommendations for the treatment of COPD
Outline the role of inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids the treatment of COPD exacerbations in light of recent FDA proposed labeling changes for long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs)

Accreditation

The Washington State Pharmacy Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education and will issue participants in this activity CE (CEU) credit – hours TBA.

Grant Support

This program are supported by an education grant from Boehringer Ingelheim.

Cost & Registration

Complimentary with attendance at the Washington State Pharmacy Association Annual Meeting. For more information, please follow this link: http://www.wsparx.org/associations/7310/files/AnnualMeetingInformation.cfm.