COPD's changing face( o for it. Everyone is confused ...),Health

"Everyone is confused by the variety of different terms, COPD, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The confusion in the terms we use to describe the disease has created a barrier, making it very difficult for the medical community to reach an understanding of this incredibly common, difficult and expensive disease," said Dr. Buist. "Our confusion extends to defining who has COPD. Depending on how we define it -- do we ask, 'Has a doctor ever told you that you have?' or base a diagnosis on the presence of chronic cough and sputum or on abnormal lung function -- we can end up with very different prevalence numbers."

COPD is usually first diagnosed in patients in their mid-50s. COPD is an expensive disease that causes premature disability, premature mortality and sends patients to the hospital over and over again for the treatment of debilitating exacerbations. Up to 70 percent of the cost of COPD in the U.S. is caused by exacerbations, according to Dr. Buist. "These are older patients who may have other illnesses," she said. "They frequently end up in the hospital."

"COPD is a disease with a significant impact on the quality of life," according to Dr. Buist. "These patients are miserable. They can't breath. They may be dependent on oxygen. They have little muscle strength and can't get around. They are literally gasping for breath."

"We need to make some very basic changes. We need to raise awareness of the risk of COPD for women. We also need to encourage the use of spirometry to make the diagnosis. Finally, we need to use standardized terminology for the disease," concluded Dr. Buist.

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Contact: Tamara Hargens
hargens@ohsu.edu
503-494-8231
American Medical Association
6-Nov-2003