User:DayWalsh/Explanation of COPD

The Issue

• Cigarette smoking is the primary cause of COPD .

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that there are presently 1.1 billions smokers worldwide and that this figure will increase to 1.6 billion by 2025 in low and middle-income countries (Reference from WHO).

• In the year 2000 there was an estimated 2.74 millions deaths worldwide from COPD alone.

• COPD currently affects over 2 million Australians .

• COPD is the leading cause of death in the Australian population (4th for males, 6th for females) and was responsible for 5,152 deaths in 2007.

• In 1990, COPD was ranked 12th as a burden of disease and this is projected to reach 5th by 2020.

• In the US COPD has an estimated 15% prevalence in those aged over 65 years and accounts for 20% of hospitalisations of older people .

• The real prevalence of COPD is likely to be under-estimated due to the under-diagnosis or misdiagnosis of the disease .

How serious is COPD?

A 'Quality of Life' study was performed on both COPD patients and patients with inoperable lung cancer, finding:

	COPD	Lung Cancer
Housebound	80%	36%
Chair-bound	36%	10%

An international study measuring the prevalence of COPD determined that 19.2% of a population sample, 40 years and over (n=562) in Sydney demonstrated lung function consistent with a diagnosis of COPD. The study found 10.2% of the sample had lung function consistent with moderate to severe COPD.

Diagnosis

Indicators of COPD include:

Chronic Cough: Present intermittently or every day. Often present throughout the day; seldom only nocturnal .

Chronic Sputum Production: Any pattern of chronic sputum production may indicate COPD .

Acute Bronchitis: Repeated episodes .

Dyspnea that is: Progressive, persistent, worse with exercise, and worse during respiratory infections .

History of Exposure to Risk Factors: Including tobacco smoke, occupational dusts and chemicals, smoke from home cooking and heating fuel e.g. coal .

Note: Please note that diagnosis should always be confirmed by Spirometry

COPD is usually classified by severity, from mild to moderate to severe.

Mild COPD

In mild COPD, symptoms may only include the need to cough up mucus each morning. Symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing or coughing up mucus might only occur during winter or after a cold.

Moderate COPD

In moderate COPD, above symptoms are present almost every day, including feeling out of breath after exertion such as walking quickly, having trouble doing every day chores as a result of breathlessness, and it may take several weeks to recover from a cold or chest infection.

Severe COPD

In severe COPD, above symptoms will be present every day and shortness of breath will be present during normal daily activities such as taking a shower or getting the mail.