Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory condition that obstructs airflow in the lungs, causing breathing difficulties. Its main cause is long-term exposure to irritating gases, especially cigarette smoke, as well as genetic predispositions, asthmatic patients, or events that affect lung development in childhood.
“Currently, this disease causes US$106 billion in economic expenses worldwide and these figures are expected to increase in the coming years, due to the high hospitalization rate due to complications,” said Dr. Andrés Rojas, Medical Director of AstraZeneca for Central America and the Caribbean.
The mortality rate is high, with 1 in 5 patients dying within a year of their first hospitalization, underscoring the importance of transforming the lives of these individuals through early intervention and making innovative treatments available. Preventing exacerbations is a key clinical priority, as even a single exacerbation can cause further deterioration of a patient’s lung function and worsen their condition.
The main symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, chronic cough, frequent respiratory infections, fatigue, unintentional weight loss, and swelling of the legs, ankles or feet. Measures that patients can implement to improve their quality of life and help control the disease include avoiding tobacco, regular physical activity and getting vaccinated against respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, influenza and COVID-19. Although COPD is considered to be progressive and worsens over time, it is treatable.
According to data from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the incidence in the Latin American region has increased and there is a growth in the prevalence of 212 million cases, being more common in men and older people. It is estimated that by 2050, the prevalence in the region will be more than 25 million cases, surpassing North America and the Europe-Central Asia region.
“COPD has a significant impact on patients’ lives, including physical consequences such as difficulty carrying out daily activities, thus impairing the patient’s quality of life, emotional effects, and added to this is a decrease in productivity, which means their income is reduced. It is important to call on health authorities to transform care for these people, achieving greater access to therapies that reverse the damage and deterioration of lung function, and generating more information to prevent the disease, understanding that it is a threat to the health of the population and to health systems around the world,” added Dr. Rojas.
To reach a diagnosis, the patient must be examined by a specialist and confirmed by medical tests such as spirometry, which is a lung function test, chest X-rays, CT scans, arterial blood gas analysis, and other laboratory tests. Although there is no cure for COPD, there are treatments that help improve the condition of patients and delay the progression of the disease.
