MADRID, Nov. 15 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish Association of COPD Patients and Caregivers (EPOC Spain) has highlighted the “urgency” of betting on early diagnosis plans for this disease, since “detecting it in time and providing the National Health System (SNS) with mechanisms for “Patient care and follow-up is key to improving their quality of life and reducing mortality and hospital costs.”
COPD affects 12 percent of the Spanish population over 40 years of age. According to the association, “it is one of the most prevalent pathologies in this age group and, however, it is largely unknown to the general public and, what is more serious, to those who suffer from it.” In fact, it is estimated that 75 percent of those affected remain undiagnosed, which results in an irreversible worsening of their health status.
In the opinion of Iñaki Morán, president of EPOC Spain, “underdiagnosis continues to be the main challenge for patient associations”, which is why he proposes measures such as performing spirometry for all people considered at risk.
PULMONARY REHABILITATION AND MENTAL HEALTH
For COPD Spain, care coordination, access to respiratory physiotherapy and psychological care are “key areas” that require immediate attention. Morán insists that, according to recent studies, 70 percent of COPD patients lack access to mental health specialists, and more than half have never participated in respiratory physiotherapy programs.
Furthermore, once the diagnosis is known, COPD Spain also detects deficiencies in information, awareness and establishment of healthy living guidelines. This lack of knowledge contributes to low treatment adherence and poor quality of life.
“Educational actions are necessary like those that patient associations are already carrying out,” says the president of the Association.
In this sense, EPOC Spain advocates intensified awareness campaigns, aimed at the general public, and the expansion of anti-smoking regulations, “taking advantage of the fact that during the pandemic regulations were issued to prohibit smoking in spaces such as terraces.”
In addition to tightening tobacco consumption regulations, the association also calls for decisive actions to promote vaccination among all COPD patients, given their high risk of suffering complications from infections such as covid, flu, whooping cough, RSV or pneumococcus.
“We believe that it is important for health professionals to encourage those affected to get vaccinated and thus prevent diseases that can seriously affect the progression of COPD, in addition to the risk of complications,” said Morán.
Finally, the association also demands the inclusion of respiratory patients among the risk groups for the herpes zoster virus, as these patients have a higher risk of suffering from complications.
