Majority of patients with COPD unaware of risks associated with the disease

A significant number of patients with COPD appeared unaware of the risk factors associated with the disease and had limited knowledge of the current stage of their disease, according to a national survey conducted by Health Union.

Participants also reported that the disease had a severe impact on their quality of life and that they suffered from countless comorbid conditions.

Health Union, a medical information website, conducted a national survey of 1,009 patients with COPD, emphysema and bronchitis to assess the daily experiences patients with COPD have.

Some of the takeaway messages from the survey include:

62% of patients did not know of COPD nor its risk factors prior to diagnosis;
4% of patients reported knowing of future treatments on the horizon for the disease;
64% said they wished they knew how COPD would change their life at diagnosis;
63% also reported that they wished they knew how to stop or slow the disease at diagnosis;
respondents reported experiencing several comorbidities including high blood pressure (51%), anxiety disorder (37%) and asthma (31%), and
87% reported they did not do as much as they used too and 78% said they wished they had done things different in the past to not get the disease.

Patients also reported they avoided medication because of the cost (42%) and almost half of the respondents (42%) said they would switch to a generic if available.

“This survey illustrates the need for more COPD awareness and education amongst the general public, and patients as well,” Tim Armand, co-founder of Health Union, said in the release. “As the incidence of COPD continues to grow, hopefully educational efforts…can bridge the information gap and ultimately improve care. – by Ryan McDonald