News
It's COPD and Alpha-1 Awareness Month; most people aware of COPD, but less than half understand that it can be treated
WASHINGTON—Awareness of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) continues to grow in the United States, according to national survey results released today by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health.
The NHLBI released the survey to kick off the month of November, which is National COPD Awareness Month and also Alpha-1 Awareness Month.
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1) is the most important known genetic factor in COPD and is sometimes referred to as “genetic COPD.”
Sixty-eight percent of adults are now aware of COPD, a disease that affects 1 in 5 people over age 45, compared with 64 percent last year, and 49 percent in a 2004 survey. Among a high-risk group, those who are currently smoking, awareness rose to 74 percent compared to 69 percent a year ago.
Less than half of all adults, 44 percent, understand that COPD can be treated.
“Awareness is an important first step,” said James P. Kiley, PhD, director, NHLBI Division of Lung Diseases. “However, awareness alone is not enough. People at risk of developing the disease need to know what the disease looks and feels like, and most importantly, to understand that it can be treated. The key is to get tested and start treatment as soon as possible.”
COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is a serious lung disease affecting 24 million men and women in the United States. However, half of them remain undiagnosed despite recognizable symptoms such as shortness of breath while doing activities that used to be easy, wheezing, or chronic cough (sometimes called a “smoker’s cough.”)
Most cases of COPD are related to smoking. Yet only 15 to 20 percent of smokers develop COPD. This has led to aggressive current investigation by researchers to see what genetic factors, including Alpha-1, may be causing susceptibility to COPD.
The survey showed that physicians maintain an optimistic view about COPD treatability. Approximately 9 out of 10 primary care physicians agree that available treatments can optimize quality of life for their patients with COPD. However, the survey also showed that this message may not be familiar to their patients.
Alpha-1 can also be treated, but awareness of the condition and the fact that Alpha-1 can be treated are much lower, even among healthcare professionals, according to the Alpha-1 Foundation.
Symptoms of COPD were approximately two times more common among current smokers than former smokers, but current smokers are only half as likely to talk to their doctors about these symptoms. Survey results also showed that 41 percent of current smokers do not talk to their doctors about these symptoms because they do not want to hear another quit smoking message.
