COPD is becoming an increasingly serious health problem in the world. The World Health Organization predicts that this disease will become the third cause of death by 2030. Long-term prognosis for patients after hospitalization as a result of exacerbation of COPD is bad – 50%. patients die within five years.
- According to WHO data, the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is constantly increasing. Symptoms are shown by every tenth Pole in his XNUMXs
- As much as 80 percent the sick are unaware of it
- It is now the fourth, and by 2030 it may already be responsible for a third of deaths
The meeting under the slogan “Modern breath – COPD exacerbations and opportunities for the patient” was organized as part of the “Lungs of Poland” educational campaign, aimed at increasing awareness and early detection of this extremely insidious disease.
The data from the World Health Organization (WHO) quoted at the conference show that the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is constantly increasing. In 1990, it was the sixth cause of death, now it is the fourth, and in 2030 it will be responsible for a third of deaths. This disease will only be preceded by diseases of the circulatory system and neoplasms.
– Unfortunately, the early detection of COPD has not improved; in our country, as many as four-fifths of patients still do not know anything about their disease – said Dr. hab. Piotr Boros from the Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases in Warsaw. Every tenth Pole in his forties shows symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 15 thousand the sick die every year because of it.
So far, thanks to educational campaigns, the percentage of people associating the acronym COPD has increased. In 2011 – as the research of the Polish Society of Lung Diseases showed – only 3 percent. Poles knew what it meant, and in 2016 it increased to 40%; however, only about half of the respondents were able to elaborate on this acronym, and in addition, it was generally wrong.
– We want Poles to undergo spirometric tests to check their respiratory efficiency – emphasized Dr. Piotr Boros. Such a test is the only way to detect this disease early, because it causes little specific symptoms due to the narrowing of the airways. These are mainly cough and shortness of breath, ailments confused with other diseases, mainly respiratory tract infections, and often underestimated.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may manifest itself as a progressive decline in physical performance. ‘However, patients often think it is related to aging or heart failure, and when COPD is finally detected, it turns out to be well developed,’ he added.
Cigarette smokers over 40, who are most exposed to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, should be tested first. – However, it should be remembered that the risk of this disease is also increased by dust and chemicals in the work environment, passive smoking, as well as indoor and outdoor air pollution and frequent respiratory infections – emphasized Dr. Piotr Boros.
COPD is not a disease of the elderly. As shown by the international report “COPD Uncovered”, half of the patients are under 65 years of age. – It is also erroneous to believe that almost exclusively men suffer from the disease, and more and more often, COPD occurs in women. For example, in Austria it is mainly women who suffer from this disease – said Dr. Boros.
The specialist emphasized that the early detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is crucial for its effective treatment. – The disease cannot be cured or stopped with appropriate treatment, but its symptoms can be slowed down and reduced. The best results can be achieved when treatment is started in the early stages of the disease, he added.
Effective treatment reduces the risk of exacerbation of the disease, symptoms of which may be sudden dyspnea at rest and increased cough, as well as the appearance of new ailments such as cyanosis. – With each exacerbation of the disease, the risk of another exacerbation increases. After two exacerbations, the probability of another increases fivefold – said Dr. Piotr Boros.
Mild or moderate exacerbations only require the use of additional inhaled or oral medications. In case of severe exacerbation, hospital treatment is necessary. The data presented during the conference show that every third patient requires another hospitalization after a hospital stay within 8 weeks.
– Treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is becoming more and more effective – argued Dr. hab. Piotr Boros. Medicines are used that contain two long-acting active substances that can be taken once a day. Thanks to this, the patient does not experience shortness of breath in the morning immediately after getting out of bed.
Research published in late March 2018 by Lancet Respiratory Medicine suggests that drugs of this type reduce the number of moderate to severe exacerbations of COPD. This, in turn, can reduce hospitalizations and overall treatment costs.
What is COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease develops in people who usually have clinical symptoms of chronic bronchitis (chronic bronchitis) and / or emphysema. The flow limitation is not completely reversible – that is, it increases with the patient’s age and the number of the so-called disease exacerbations caused e.g. by infections. Although the ailment begins in the lungs, its effects are visible in other organs as well. One of the factors influencing the development of the disease is passive and active smoking. Be aware that tobacco smoke causes chronic inflammation as your body’s own defense response.
COPD is extremely dangerous because it does not cause any symptoms for many years. When a patient sees a doctor with a feeling of breathlessness, the disease is usually very advanced. Then the lungs lack more than half of the respiratory reserves (it is a part of the lungs that we do not use during normal breathing; we reach for it only when we exercise a lot or when there is little oxygen in the air, e.g. in the mountains). That’s why it’s so important to check your lungs regularly. Especially since it can be done quickly and painlessly
Also read: You also need to cough, i.e. the treatment of COPD