Jon Foster
Senior Policy Officer, Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation
While there’ i no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), early diagnosis is vital to managing the condition.
Around 1.3 million people in the UK live with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a progressive lung disease which makes it harder to move air in and out of the lungs. In addition, there are thought to be at least another 1.3 million people who live with COPD but have not been diagnosed. As a result, they are not receiving any treatment.
There is no cure for COPD, but early diagnosis is vital to help people manage their symptoms and live more comfortable lives. Shockingly, our new research exposes totally unacceptable delays which means that half of COPD cases may be undiagnosed. Can you imagine if this was true of cancer cases – it would be a national scandal.
No plan to address the backlog
This alarmingly low rate of diagnosis is down to a combination of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic. GPs were advised by NHS England in March 2020 to stop using diagnostic breathing tests known as spirometry tests. This, coupled with difficulty in people getting appointments, led to a 51% reduction in COPD diagnoses in England alone last year – that’s around 46,000 people missing out on a diagnosis.
Our research found that one in 10 people with COPD had never smoked before, while one in five had symptoms of the condition under the age of 45.
This is a much larger percentage drop than seen for other conditions such as heart disease, heart failure and diabetes. While rates of cancer diagnosis are already up to, and in some areas better than, pre-pandemic levels, there is no dedicated national plan to address the huge backlog in respiratory care.
A raw deal for lung conditions
However, while the pandemic has made things worse, it is not entirely to blame. People with lung conditions have for a long time had a raw deal compared to other conditions. Not only is there plenty of unjustified attitudes around lung conditions, which can sadly be seen as ‘dirty’ or ‘people’s own fault’, investment into research and treatment pales in comparison to other conditions.
It is therefore sad, but not surprising, that there is low awareness and long-standing misconceptions about COPD. One of the most common misunderstandings is that it only affects smokers and older people. This isn’t always the case. Our research found that one in 10 people with COPD had never smoked before, while one in five had symptoms of the condition under the age of 45.
We urge anyone worried about their breathing to contact their GP. They should also visit the British Lung Foundation website to get more information on COPD and to take the BLF Breath Test.
