World COPD Day: almost 80% of patients do not know they have the disease

The chronic lung disease (COPD) is a common lung disease characterized by reduce airflow and cause breathing problems. Like every year, World Health Day is celebrated on November 20. awareness about this disease that can present some degree of reversibility, but in no case normalize.

According to the EPOC.AR study, carried out by the Argentine Association of Respiratory Medicine (AAMR) and the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases (INER), it is estimated that 77% of Argentines who suffer from this disease, He does not know it, a situation that aggravates his complications and alters people’s quality of life. Among the most common symptoms are difficulty breathing (dyspnea), persistent cough and frequent respiratory infections.

World COPD Day: the data in Argentina

According to AAMR research, COPD affects 14.5% of Argentines over 40 years of ageage at which the condition usually appears. However, despite this high prevalence, It is estimated that 77% of those who suffer from it do not know itwhich reflects a significant underdiagnosis rate in the country.

The EPOC.AR study was carried out by the AAMR in collaboration with the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases (INER) with support from the GSK laboratory.

Furthermore, when breaking down the data, the report reveals that the disease affects men more, with a total of 18% affected. For its part, the prevalence among women is 11.7%. In total, it is estimated that in In our country, more than 2.3 million Argentines suffer from COPD.

World COPD Day: causes and symptoms

The COPD is characterized by the airway obstruction which limits air circulation. This generates different symptoms such as difficulty breathing (dyspnea), persistent cough and frequent respiratory infections.

The causes of this disease are related to the smoking, history of respiratory infections and environmental factorssuch as pollution, allergens and altitude.

Manuel Ibarrola, coordinator of the Pulmonology service at the Güemes Sanatorium in the city of Buenos Aires (MN 126,554) explained: “We still have a high rate of smoking and also an increase in the consumption of other forms of inhaled smoke and vapors, mainly vaping. The consumption of inhaled drugs, such as marijuana, has also grown, which, although it is known that they cause harm, Its relationship with COPD has not yet been fully established.as happens with cigarettes or with the combustion of biomass, which is the burning of firewood and coal.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that around 350 million people in the world suffer from this disease. Along these same lines, it is estimated that COPD could become the fourth cause of death globally by 2030.

“The exacerbation of COPD increases the chance of dying from any causenot only due to respiratory diseases. One of the main ones is cardiovascular disease, which can occur within the first five years after the exacerbation manifests”, Ibarrola elaborated.

Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential to improve the quality of life of people with COPD. Despite being an irreversible disease, early attention can help reduce symptoms and progression with changes in habitsas quit smokingexercise, have an updated vaccination schedule and use bronchodilators and corticosteroids given by inhalation.

“The COPD was a disease that worsened over timebut lately it has been observed that, with proper management, stability can be achieved in terms of respiratory function. However, it is important to pay attention to the symptoms of the disease in its mild statesuch as shortness of breath when faced with certain efforts that did not occur before and chronic cough. That is when the most can be done to prevent its progression and have a better quality of life“, Ibarrola said.

It is necessary to highlight the importance of spirometrysince it allows doctors detect the condition in early stages and provide treatment that minimizes the impact on health. This control is especially important for people with history of long-term smokingwho are most likely to develop severe respiratory complications. In detail, the 90% of existing cases They are a product of exposure to cigarette smoke.