Tens of thousands could be unaware they have deadly lung condition COPD

More than 45,000 people could be living with a deadly lung disease, a lung disease charity has warned.

New research by the British Lung Foundation suggests that tens of thousands may have undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

COPD is an umbrella term for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties and affects at least 1.3 million people in the UK.

A survey of 8,000 people by the British Lung Foundation suggests that as many as 46,000 people in England have had symptoms of COPD in the last year, but may not have been diagnosed, with diagnoses for COPD in 2020 estimated to have been 51 percent lower than 2019 levels.

The charity suggests that this is due to the suspension of essential diagnostic breathing tests called spirometry tests during the pandemic due to fears around the spread of Covid, as well as long waits to see specialists and a lack of awareness around the disease and who it affects.

COPD is usually caused by long-term damage to the lungs from breathing in a harmful substance including cigarette smoke, air pollution or occupational exposure to harmful fumes or dust.

Common symptoms of COPD as listed on the NHS website include increasing breathlessness, including during exercise or during the night, a persistent chesty cough with phlegm that does not go away, frequent chest infections and persistent wheezing.

Though the condition commonly affects older people, one in five people (21%) who have been diagnosed with the condition had symptoms when they were under the age of 45, according to the survey.

If left undiagnosed, COPD can cause someone’s health to deteriorate and cause a higher level of “flare-ups,” where breathing becomes more and more difficult, leading to hospital admission and a greater chance of dying from the illness, the British Lung Foundation said.

COPD is estimated to cost the NHS £1.9bn a year and is the second-largest cause of emergency hospital admissions, the charity added.

Earlier diagnosis means the rate of decline in lung function can be slowed and symptoms can be addressed through good self-management, medication and pulmonary rehabilitation (a breathing and exercise programme), helping people to maintain their quality of life.

Ahead of World COPD Day (November 17), the British Lung Foundation is calling for better access to diagnostic tests and care for people with the condition, as well as more awareness around the signs and symptoms of the disease.

The charity is also urging people who are concerned about their breathlessness to take a breath test on the British Lung Foundation website, which will advise whether they should book an appointment with their GP about their symptoms.

Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive at the British Lung Foundation, said:

“It’s heart-breaking that people with COPD are being left without a diagnosis and the treatment they need.

“The growing numbers of undiagnosed people with COPD is a ticking time bomb for the NHS. Before the pandemic struck, treating people with COPD that had a delayed diagnosis put huge pressure on our health system.

“With Covid-19 having such a dramatic impact on diagnosis rates, the pressure will only intensify if action is not taken.

“It is vital that the NHS urgently ensures that GPs are supported to deliver life-saving diagnostic testing right now to start to address the backlog of undiagnosed patients.

“We are determined to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of COPD and we urge anyone who is concerned about their breathlessness to take our breath test.”

Alison Cook, Director of External Affairs at Asthma UK and the Chair of the Taskforce for Lung Health, a collaboration of over 30 different charities, organisations and patients working to improve lung health, said: “We need to make a concerted effort to find people who have COPD and offer them the treatment they need.

“That means raising awareness that breathlessness is not normal, even as you get older so that people go to see their GP if they notice a change.

“We need to make sure that GPs are looking at people’s health records and calling them in if they have been for repeated visits for cough or breathlessness and it is essential that they use spirometry to make an accurate diagnosis.

“Every day there are more and more people living with COPD who could, without treatment, end up as an emergency case, an avoidable tragedy for that person and for an already stretched NHS.”