Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A disease that could become third-biggest killer by 2020

COPD already kills more people than lung and breast cancer combined.

RAWALPINDI:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a fatal lung disease that kills more people each year than lung cancer and breast cancer combined, could become the third-largest cause of death by 2020, behind heart diseases and strokes. This was said by health experts during a seminar on “Managing Patients with COPD and Asthma” held here on Thursday.

Professor Charles Feldman, head of the Pulmonology Division at University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, estimated that COPD will become the fifth largest cause of disability by 2020, behind ischemic heart disease, depression, traffic accidents and cerebrovascular diseases.

The professor said up to 75% of patients with COPD have difficultly performing everyday activities including walking, climbing stairs, bathing, and dressing.

The symptoms of COPD include breathlessness, increased effort needed to breathe, excessive mucus, chronic cough and fatigue, Prof Feldman said. Severe fatigue limits physical activity and also has significant impacts on patients work, family and social life, harming general quality of life.

The symptoms of COPD also have a psychological impact, with patients frequently experiencing feeling of anxiety, helplessness and depression.

As a result of the chronic nature of the disease and the disabling symptoms associated with it, people caring for COPD patients are often forced to take on considerable physical social and emotional responsibilities, the expert said.

Environment intensive and prolonged exposure to dust, certain chemicals and pollutants increases the risk of COPD. The disease is also genetic in some people, caused by a rare hereditary disorder, the health expert noted.

COPD is confirmed by spirometry, a diagnostic test that measures how much air a person can inhale and exhale and how fast air moves in and out of the lungs.

The professor said currently there is no cure for COPD and all currently available treatment concentrate on halting the progression of the disease, reducing complications and improving patient’s quality of life.

“Stopping smoking is the single most effective intervention to reduce the risk of developing COPD and to stop its progression,” the professor said.

Flu vaccination is also recommended as it is a rehabilitative measure for all patients. Patients far along are recommended oxygen therapy.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2012.