By By Our Correspondent
DEPARTMENT of Pulmonology, Allama Iqbal Medical College (AIMC), Lahore, Chairman Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal has said the chronic obstructive pulmonology disease (COPD) is seriously under-recognised in Pakistan which is the fourth leading cause of deaths in the world.
“This is a preventable disease if treated timely as effective treatment is available for people who have been diagnosed with COPD,” Dr Zafar Iqbal, a noted pulmonologist, said during a presentation given to journalists in connection with World COPD Day here on Tuesday.
He said the COPD was a common lung disease that obstructs the airways in the lungs and make breathing difficult. In contrast to asthma, the limitation of airflow is usually not reversible and can progressively get worse over time. The COPD is caused by noxious particles or gas, most commonly from tobacco smoking, which triggers a swelling in the lungs, which are worsened by infections or air pollution, he added.
He said the disease was on the rise in the country and it is estimated that about 10 per cent of the population in Pakistan above the age of 40 suffers from the COPD. He said 75 per cent cases of COPD were caused by smoking in the country while 50 percent of people especially smokers were not aware that they were suffering from this disease. Highlighting the symptoms, he said early symptom of this disease was persistent cough accompanied with sputum. As the disease advances a person starts to feel shortness of breath even on slightest exertion, increased mucus and coughing. If the COPD is detected early, treatments are available to prevent further deterioration of lung function, he added.
Referring to various studies, he said most people who suffered from the COPD smoked or used to smoke. Long-term exposure to other lung irritants, such as air pollution, chemical fumes, or dust contributes to COPD, he said. THE COPD can be preventive through creating awareness among the masses while quitting smoking is the only way to prevent or slow progression of the disease, he hinted. A large number of people, including a few doctors, mix the COPD with asthma, however, the COPD is quite different with the latter, he stated.
He said the COPD was among the leading causes of chronic morbidity and mortality in the world, including Pakistan and it put a heavy burden on the individual patient and the country, causing disability and impairing quality of life, as well as generating high costs.
As many as 25 percent bed occupancy in the public hospitals is on account of this disease, he pointed out.
To a query, he replied that data for the COPD prevalence in the country was not available like other diseases in the country, thus its prevalence and the burden of disease were therefore probably higher than estimated.