How to know if a person has COPD

2024-08-25 04:30:00

If a person has ever smoked, if he or she feels short of breath when climbing a hill or walking briskly, and has phlegm and cough for more than 2 years, You should consult your doctor and have a spirometry test, This is a painless test that evaluates the volume and rate of airflow in the lungs. You may have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.

In Argentina, Up to 30% of people over the age of 40 who seek medical treatment suffer from this disease. It is also known that between Between 75% and 80% of patients are undiagnosed.
There is no cure for COPD, but it can be improved by not smoking, avoiding air pollution, and getting vaccinated. It can be treated with medication, oxygen and pulmonary rehabilitation.

Researcher at the Faculty of Medicine of the National University of Neuquén-Comachu, Gustavo Zabert, MD, recently published an article with colleagues from the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Chile noting barriers in patients with COPD. When they try to get treatment. Article published in magazine Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

The most common causes of COPD are smoking and air pollution. Dr. Zabot, president of the Argentine Association of Respiratory Medicine, explained to “Diario” negro river Spirometry is a relatively simple technique that involves the use of new computerized equipment. “But quality and diagnostic explanations require doctors
Pulmonologist,” the expert said.

He expressed concern about the availability of adequate treatment for those affected. Some people don’t get treatment. Others receive inappropriate treatment.

Most people with COPD do not receive adequate treatment

In the PLAtino study, which was conducted in the general population, and the PUMA study, which focused on hospital care, it was found that three-quarters of patients (75%) did not receive treatment, and up to 50% of these patients did not receive treatment. Treatment to relieve symptoms.

“In addition to controlling risk factors (such as smoking cessation, avoiding pollutants, and receiving appropriate vaccinations), long-term use of long-acting bronchodilators and as-needed use of short-acting bronchodilators should improve patients’ symptoms and quality of life.” , Respiratory Medicine and physical rehabilitation and oxygen if needed,” he said.

“The most important thing is to prevent exacerbations, known as exacerbations, which can make patients sicker and accelerate their progression.” -he warned-. Today, we have very effective inhaled medications such as long-acting bronchodilators (there are two types) and inhaled corticosteroids, which are available as monotherapy, dual or triple therapy and have been shown to be effective in reducing exacerbations and improving symptoms and quality of life, and reduce disease exacerbations.

A big problem with these drugs is their high cost and the need to obtain coverage from medical sponsors (public and private). “Paradoxically, those who need it most are those who have the least access,” he points out.

In 2019, the World Health Organization recognized that long-acting drugs such as tiotropium should be considered essential medicines because they can reduce exacerbations.improve and reduce the cost of care.

In the PUMA study, less than 8% of patients were receiving long-acting bronchodilators. If they don’t have health insurance, then none of them get health insurance. “In our article, we highlight that the price of long-acting bronchodilator treatment may mean that patients spend 4 to 8 days of income purchasing the medication at a pharmacy.

The end result is that they are given up on these medications and accept what they can pay (1 or 2 days of salary) to temporarily improve their symptoms, or they are treated like asthmatics with unproven medications. ” commented Dr. Zabot.

Dr. Gustavo Zabert and foreign colleagues publish an article warning of barriers to access to COPD treatment

In the entire Americas, only Brazil has these treatments integrated into the public system at no cost to patients. By doing so, they successfully reduced COPD hospitalizations and costs.

For teachers, The disease should become a public health priority Because “this phenomenon is increasing due to the aging population, the persistence of tobacco consumption and air pollution,” he said.

“It is expected to become the third leading cause of death in the world within the next decade, and on top of that we must also consider the health effects and costs of poor care,” he stressed. There is a need to promote prevention and early diagnosis, adequate vaccination, transparency Prevent disease progression by quitting smoking, developing policies to avoid indoor air pollution (such as high-quality stoves that prevent smoke) or work.

“Inhaled treatments with proven efficacy and effectiveness must be available to patients with this disease,” he concluded.

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