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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - A National Report Card Released for World COPD Day
November 16, 2005
Click here to download the entire report. // PDF // 1.5 MB
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A National Report Card is the largest and most comprehensive research study ever completed on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Canada.
The goal of the Report Card is to highlight the strengths and gaps in COPD prevention and management and to put the disease on the national and provincial health care agendas.
As part of this study, three different populations were surveyed in all the provinces. Between September 1, 2005 and October 7, 20055, telephone surveys were conducted to:
- 2568 adult Canadians aged 18 and over
- 252 physicians (including 29 respirologists)
- 130 COPD patients
Based on the research conducted, every province was assigned a grade, rating the prevention and management of COPD in each province.
Research was conducted ranked based on the following:
- COPD as a health issue and priority
- Public awareness and attitudes
- Physician awareness, attitudes and familiarity with CTS guidelines
- Access to and use of spirometry
- Physician prescribing habits and access to COPD medications
- Recommendation and use of medication interventions
Key Findings
- Prevalence of COPD is much higher than previously though – until now, it was estimated that there are approximately 714,000 diagnosed patients in Canada (at the time 2.3 per cent of the population). However, in this Report Card eight percent of respondents said they have been diagnosed with COPD, emphysema or chronic bronchitis.
- The majority of provinces received a grad of “D” or lower with three provinces failing.
- Fewer than half of all Canadians (45%) have ever heard of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and only 17% have heard of COPD.
- Nationally, access to spirometry by physicians is high but use is low and comfort interpreting the results even lower.
- While there are pulmonary rehabilitation programs being offered across the country, it is estimated that only 1.2% of the COPD population is being served.
- Provinces are not fully complying with the Canadian Thoracic Society COPD guidelines about medications.
- More than half the physicians (56%) said their provincial government is not making COPD a health care priority.
How BC Ranks
British Columbia received a mark of only a D+ when ranked on its management of COPD. This is an especially low mark for a rich province where approximately 70,000 people suffer from the disease and increases in mortality and hospitalization rates because of COPD loom.
- In terms of COPD-related statistics, BC currently ranks above the national average in two areas: its smoking rate is the lowest in the country (15%) as is its COPD hospitalization rate (555 per 100,000).
- However, 9 out of 10 doctors (93%) say they are unable to prescribe the best COPD treatments available because of the current medical reimbursement environment in BC. The provincial formulary in BC does not reflect the recommendations of the CTS guidelines. It does not fully list the recommended first-line maintenance therapists.
- The province lags in treatment – both non-medical and medical.
- Pulmonary rehabilitation capacity in BC is too low and spirometry, while available, is under-utilized in BC.
What can BC do Better?
The Province must come to grips with the disease and act to implement formal strategies that reflect widely-accepted management guidelines. The Lung Association recommends action in six areas, including:
- Prioritize COPD in the healthcare system by developing and fully implementing a provincial strategy with funds allocated specifically for COPD.
- Provide patient reimbursement through a provincial drug plan to reflect the CTS guidelines.
- Improve pulmonary rehabilitation capacity by increasing funds to rehab programs.
- Train physicians to use spirometry better.
- Implement earlier testing and detection.
- Implement public awareness and education about COPD risks, symptoms and treatment.
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