Letter to the Editor: A Patient Perspective

摘要

We are 250 million souls with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) worldwide. It’s the third leading cause of death globally. In the United States alone, we are 30 million and the third leading cause of death among chronic diseases. I have been diagnosed for 18 years with severe and very severe COPD, but COPD took decades to reveal itself in my lungs. Too many COPD patients feel abandoned, alone, fearful, anxious, and depressed, as we descend deeper and deeper in the downward spiral that has only one ending– death. Only 3 major therapies for COPD exist– inhaled medications that control symptoms for most, supplemental oxygen (only if our resting oxygen level is very low) and pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). PR is evidence-based and is a program that can and does improve our function and quality of life. It is not widely available and is dismally reimbursed. Only 1.8%–3.7% of patients have access to PR. There is presently no cure for COPD, nothing to stop the progress of the disease or to reverse it. Ironically, we have a therapy (PR) and we are not supporting its use as we should.