Last week saw World COPD Day – an awareness day for a little known pulmonary disease. Almost half (45%) of COPD sufferers in the UK, for example, describe their health as poor or very poor, with nearly the same (47%) suffering from shortness of breath every day.

COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, describes a number of conditions affecting the lungs, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

World COPD Day is organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), together with professionals and patient groups.

Recent research commissioned by GSK released earlier this year shows that the disease is still poorly understood – both in the number of sufferers in the UK and in the causes of the disease.

The disease can be very tough to live with – more than half (53%) of patients say they cough every day, while 46%[5] bring up phlegm and 47% suffer from shortness of breath.

Furthermore, 70% state that they always carry a rescue inhaler with them, with 29% saying they are sometimes too breathless to leave the house and at other times have to stop for breath after walking for just a few minutes.

1 in 5 respondents said that their health problems affected their ability to perform daily functions (like housework, shopping, childcare etc) by as much as 80 to 100 per cent, essentially taking away all productivity from their day.

It impacts the workplace too, with more than half (59%) of COPD patients who are still in the workplace saying their work productivity had been impaired within the last 7 days by their symptoms. Despite this hardship, 3 in 4 sufferers believe that with proper treatments they can lead a full and active life.

Dr Hamzah Baig spoke with us to look at some of the new research, and explain what COPD is and what we can do to help.

Patient Talk- So what is COPD?

Dr Hamzah Baig- COPD is a condition of the lungs stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Describes a number of conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, patients might suffer symptoms of cough, production of phlegm and shortness of breath and tightness of their chest as well.

Patient Talk- Why have emphysema and chronic bronchitis been conflated in this way?

Dr Hamzah Baig- Well, emphysema and chronic bronchitis are historical descriptors of this particular condition. Emphysema was more about the lung changes that caused the breathlessness in patients. Chronic bronchitis was more of the descriptors some of the symptoms such as the cough and production of phlegm. And as medical sciences advance we realize this is the same condition but often people might refer to them using the slightly older terms.

Patient Talk- What is the difference between the two?

Dr Hamzah Baig- It is mainly a difference between the sub-spectrum of the difference in patients might have but importantly it is the same condition. Some of the primary causes within this country is smoking which causes inflammation and causes damage to the lungs.

Patient Talk- What is the prevalence and incidents of the conditions?

Dr Hamzah Baig- Well it is quite a common condition in this country, I say common almost a million people suffer from the disease. GSK has conducted some research asking patients and asking doctors about this particular disease. Our research shows that actually that maybe a few hundred thousands more of these patients that don’t have the diagnosis, we do know that COPD is one of the top five reasons for admission into A&E in this country. So it is quite an important condition.

Patient Talk- How can the condition develop?

Dr Hamzah Baig- Well, it certainly develops with early on feelings of breathlessness and persistent cough. And if it is untreated and continues to smoke then the lung function continues to deteriorate and they’re able to do less and less. For example, able to walk less far, your ability to deal with things like coughs and colds, changes in the weather gets harder and harder. Eventually you may need to have oxygen actually as a long term treatment so plugged up to an oxygen machine.

Patient Talk- I think you pretty much mentioned smoking is the main cause. What other types of people get it and what other causes are there?

Dr Hamzah Baig- Well smoking is certainly by far the largest cause in this country, there are a few people who is susceptible to it due to genetic causes and in other countries the use of biomass fuels is certainly a big cause by that I mean you know people who live in less well-off countries that are using things like wood and coal in their living area to cook and they are exposed to that day in and day out. So that’s another cause but certainly in this it’s country by far and above smoking.

Patient Talk- What are the main treatments for COPD and how effective are they?

Dr Hamzah Baig- The treatments can include inhale therapy, so treatments deliver by an inhaler. Vaccination is very important part, so is pulmonary rehabilitation which is some exercises and physiotherapy that people manage their condition. And certainly about 66% of people surveyed have had a flu vaccine within the last 12 months, but certainly a little bit more could be done to do that. We also spoke to doctors asking them about what they thought about the treatments that are available for COPD and luckily about 87% think that the outlook is better compared to 10 years ago this is due to a lot of research and new treatments that are coming through.

Patient Talk- What advice would you give for a person just diagnosed with COPD?

Dr Hamzah Baig- Well certainly stopping smoking is a very very big and important one. In our survey we did note that 86% of patients recalled discussing the benefits of stopping smoking with their doctor in the last 12 months. Sticking to their medicines, adhering to the medicines they are given – that’s a big issue amongst patients and so maintaining that regimen and remembering to take your inhaler when you’ve been asked to by a doctor that could really really help some of the symptoms. And if your symptoms do get worse, you find that you’re actually not being able to walk as far as you could before having to make adjustments to your lifestyle and waking up in the middle of the night needing to use our rescue inhaler then please do seek medical help.