World chronic obstructive pulmonary disease day 15 Nov

The Australian Lung Foundation has called on the Federal Government to prioritise Australia’s fifth largest killer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), on World COPD Day.

COPD is a long term disease of the lungs that includes emphysema and
chronic bronchitis, which causes shortness of breath. There are, however, things that people with COPD can do to breathe more easily and improve their quality of life, particularly if the disease is identified and managed early.

The Foundation proposes simple steps which could dramatically improve many of the lives of over one million Australians estimated to have COPD and save Australian taxpayers up to $264 million over four years.

It wants improved access to diagnosis and treatment for the up to one
in six Australians aged 45 or over who may have the condition.

The Australian Lung Foundation wants:
. Lung function testing to become the norm in general practitioner (GP) clinics to enable accurate diagnosis.
. Investment in pulmonary rehabilitation programs, which help reduce
people’s breathlessness so that they stay out of hospital and can often
go back to activities which they have had to give up because of their
breathlessness.

Investment in this initiative alone is estimated to save Australian taxpayers up to $264 million over four years.

COPD is Australia’s fifth biggest killer and the third leading cause of
disease burden after heart disease and stroke. With the proportion of
older Australians over 50 expected to grow from around 29% (5.7 million) in 2002 to between 46% to 50% (11.5 million to 14.3 million) by 2051, the need to better identify and manage this chronic condition comes at a crucial time.

Rsearch shows that Australians with COPD are under-diagnosed and
under-treated:

. Two-thirds (66.7%) have seen their doctor with breathing problems, but only half of these recall having a lung function test.
. Less than half (48.7%) have been prescribed medication for their
breathing.

Two of the key areas where The Australian Lung Foundation is calling for increased funding are:

. Lung function testing – also called spirometry testing – undertaken in
GP surgeries to measure lung function and help make an accurate
diagnosis. Once identified, patients can start receiving appropriate
therapy and be taught how to manage their condition themselves which can mean better health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.

. To GP clinics to meet the true costs of doing the tests, hence encouraging them to perform the tests regularly.

The Australian Lung Foundation is also calling for increased funding
into improving community awareness of the condition, in order to improve diagnosis and treatment.

The Australian Lung Foundation encourages people over 45 to see their GP about a simple lung function test if they have two or more of the following:

. Shortness of breath compared with others their age.
. A repetitive cough with phlegm or mucus most days
. Smoker or are an ex-smoker

For further information visit www.lungnet.com.au