Cases of the lung disease called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is increasing in the Philippines, according to a recent international study conduced in Manila.
The disease blocks the airways, making breathing difficult. Its symptoms include coughing, bringing up phlegm or mucus.
The increasing COPD burden is partly due to the aging of the world population and smoking, the most important risk factor for the disease, or exposure to fumes and very dusty places.
It is a highly prevalent disease affecting the quality of life of patients and their families and killing millions of people worldwide.
The study called “Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) and participated in by the COPD Foundation of the Philippines and the COPD Council of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians, revealed that of 918 sampled individuals, aged 40 and above, approximately 14 percent have COPD of various severity.
This is higher than the previous rate of reported COPD cases in the country of 3.7 to 6.3 percent, with twice the number among the male population.
There was a high rate of smokers in the population — 81.5 percent among males and 31.5 percent among females. This is much higher than the rate in the general population, indicating an increasing trend of the disease in the country.
About nine percent of males and seven percent of females with COPD had no history of cigarette smoking, thus raising questions about the role of other exposures like air pollution.
The study also noted that a test of lung function using an equipment called spirometry needs to be done on all patients suspected of having COPD because proper diagnosis can be missed if physicians rely only on signs and symptoms.
World COPD Day is observed every November in the Philippines and around the world. Now with the theme “Breathless Not Helpless” to raise awareness about the disease, the event is organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), with the support of the International COPD Coalition (ICC), World Organization of Family Doctors (WONICA) and Global Alliance for Respiratory Disease (GARD).
It represents a partnership between healthcare groups and respiratory educators.
The theme of the event underscores that treatment is available to help people with COPD. It aims to encourage patients and others with COPD symptoms to visit their doctors and get help.
The event is a call for physicians, public authorities and national organizations to work together to raise COPD awareness.
By making the public and the healthcare community aware of COPD symptoms, individuals with these symptoms will receive appropriate treatment and prevent further deterioration of their lungs.
The effort will significantly reduce deaths from COPD, cut the number of hospitalizations due to the disease and reduce the rate of new cases.