The nation’s peak lung health body is calling for more funding to care for hundreds of thousands of Australians currently living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), as we mark World COPD Day this Wednesday 15 November.
Lung Foundation Australia CEO Mark Brooke said the organisation was putting COPD back on the political agenda, also calling for a Federal review of the diagnosis of COPD and other chronic respiratory diseases to strengthen health outcomes for Australians with these conditions.
“Up to half a million Australians live with COPD, yet too many suffer alone undiagnosed. Many more don’t receive the care they need to manage their COPD effectively,” Mr Brooke said.
“One year ago Lung Foundation Australia launched the COPD blueprint report, which set out Australia’s first, comprehensive road map for COPD reform. Today we highlight two key areas, diagnosis and care, where we must start to see change.
“This World COPD Day we must stand up on behalf of the COPD community, advocating in the rooms and chambers where decisions are made. Let’s break down the stigma, ensure earlier and accurate diagnosis of this common condition and improve outcomes for hundreds of thousands of Australians.”
COPD cost the Australian health system an estimated $995 million in 2019-20 and is the most common cause of potentially preventable hospitalisations for chronic conditions – more than heart failure, diabetes complications, and asthma.
“I was misdiagnosed for eight years. Treated for pneumonia and asthma. My first big exacerbation was the most terrifying night of my life. Went to sleep a little unwell, woke up at 1am and couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t even work out how to ring 000 because I couldn’t speak. The more I couldn’t breathe the more I panicked, which just made it so much worse.” – Cathy, living with COPD
Mr Brooke said while we know up to 500,000 Australians face the daily worry of life with COPD, the most worrying thing about these numbers is that up to 50 per cent of cases are not diagnosed.
“That’s another 200,000 Aussies who may find themselves experiencing an exacerbation out of nowhere,” he said.
“Early and accurate diagnosis supports more timely and more appropriate medical and risk modification interventions and, consequently, improved outcomes.”
Lung Foundation Australia’s COPD blueprint report is available here: Transforming the agenda for COPD: A path towards prevention and lifelong lung health – Lung Foundation Australia’s Blueprint for Action on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) 2022-2025
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For media enquiries please contact:
Lung Foundation Australia Media and Communications Specialist
Anna Hilton
0408 191 192