Awareness of COPD growing but many remain undiagnosed

(BPT) - Americans are becoming more aware of the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to a survey released by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). About 70 percent of American adults say they are familiar with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), up from 2013 data. However, the increased level of awareness is in stark contrast to diagnosis levels: 6 percent of Americans are diagnosed with COPD, but a total of 12 percent of the adult population experience the symptoms, leaving an estimated half of those living with the disease unaware and undiagnosed.

“It’s encouraging to see that more Americans know about COPD – especially among current and former smokers who are most at risk, but that’s only half the battle," says James Kiley, director of the NHLBI Division of Lung Diseases. "Knowledge alone is not enough. We need to focus on what patients and their health care providers are doing with that information. One-third of people who are living with symptoms of COPD are not talking about it during medical visits, and that can lead to delays in diagnosis.”

Signs of COPD, including shortness of breath, chronic cough and wheezing, often are brushed off as signs of getting a cold and during the warmer months, some may assume it is allergies or normal signs of getting older. But the real reason for not being able to perform every day activities could be due to COPD, making it even more important to discuss any symptoms with a health care provider. The disease can be diagnosed with a non-invasive breathing test called spirometry and can be done in a doctor’s office.

People under 45 make up the majority of those who have not spoken with their provider, meaning there is an opportunity for earlier interventions.

“There is no cure for COPD; but we can improve the quality of life for people living with COPD, if we catch it early and get the right treatment regimen in place,” says Kiley. “That’s why it is so critical that we close the communications gap and get patients and providers talking more about the disease.”

COPD most often occurs in people age 40 and older with a history of smoking. However, as many as one in four people with COPD have never smoked, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. Risk factors also include long-term exposure to substances that can irritate the lungs or a genetic predisposition called alpha-1 antitrypsin – AAT – deficiency.

One-in-seven (14 percent) adult Americans knows someone suffering from the symptoms. The NHLBI encourages everyone at risk to get familiar with COPD and talk to a health care provider as soon as possible because even small steps can help improve outcomes. For more information and resources, visit COPD.nhlbi.nih.gov, NHLBI’s COPD Learn More Breathe Better program.