A new report by the Ontario Lung Association released Oct. 28 has revealed significant knowledge gaps when it comes to the diagnosis and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The report, Helping the Missing Million, says that while two million Canadians live with the disease, an additional one million more may have it without their knowledge.
COPD is a lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. With COPD, a person's breathing passages are obstructed or blocked, making it hard to breathe. Symptoms include a persistent cough, shortness of breath (dyspnea), chest tightness, wheezing or a whistling or squeaky sound when breathing.
A survey of COPD patients found that more than half of respondents did not know what COPD was before they were diagnosed. Among those who had experienced at least one symptom, 35 per cent did not speak to their doctor about the issue, while 65 per cent of patients experienced symptoms for at least one year before being diagnosed.
"Helping the Missing Million allows us to better understand the specific factors that prevent people with COPD from receiving proper diagnosis and treatment," says George Habib, President & CEO, Ontario Lung Association. "This understanding will help us work together with patients and healthcare providers to improve education, collaboration and ultimately, improved outcomes for patients."
To learn more, visit www.lungontario.ca/missingmillion.
