Work

Time for a change: anticipating the diagnosis and treatment of COPD

Year: 2020

Type: editorial

Abstract: COPD is a major public health problem because of its high prevalence (about 10% of the adult population), rising incidence (likely related to the ageing of the population), associated morbi-mortality (it is currently the third leading cause of death globally), and personal, social and economic costs [1]. The traditional way to address this problem has been to reduce smoking exposure, the main environmental risk factor for COPD [1]. Although this was, is and will be, a key public-health strategy, we argue here that it is not enough. If we want to eradicate COPD [2], it is time for a change that anticipates the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. COPD is often not diagnosed, or is diagnosed too late. It is time for a change that anticipates both diagnosis and treatment. <https://bit.ly/2BrDSv1> ANTES is supported by GSK and run by an independent academic scientific committee, which includes the authors of this article and, in addition, Julio Ancochea, Ciro Casanova, Alberto Fernandez Villar, Juan Luis Garcia Rivero, Cruz Gonzalez, Jose Luis Lopez Campos, Francisco Javier Martin-Sanchez, Jesus Molina, German Peces-Barba, Miguel Roman and Felipe Villar.

Source: European Respiratory Journal

DOI: 10.1183/13993003.02104-2020