Answering the Call in COPD: Addressing Inequities in COPD Care

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex and heterogeneous disease that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite efforts to standardize the diagnosis, treatment, and management of this progressive disease, many patients receive a delayed diagnosis or remain undiagnosed and face dismal outcomes. Additionally, despite the availability of several pharmacologic therapies and continually updated guideline recommendations, COPD is sub-optimally treated in current clinical practice. As a result, patients with COPD are associated with a poor quality of life, with many patients living in discomfort and experiencing debilitating exacerbations. Recently, evidence has demonstrated the utility of combination therapy in reducing exacerbations among patients with COPD and updated guidelines have identified specific patient subsets that can benefit from these approaches. Even if appropriate therapy is initiated, patients may have persistent barriers related to optimized medication delivery and adherence. Therefore, individualized evaluation of patient characteristics and associated device selection is recommended. This program will cover social, psychological, and multimorbidity-related factors that can delay an accurate diagnosis and optimal care for those living with COPD.

English broadcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NusJpYHy87g

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