November 20, 2008	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 21, 1429

KARACHI, Nov 19: Health practitioners at a seminar on Wednesday observed that an increased recognition and acknowledgement of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) could enhance the chances of correct interventions and save the patients from fatigue, limitation of physical activity and adverse effects on their work and family life.

The seminar was organised by the Pakistan Chest Society (PCS), Sindh, in collaboration with the departments of pulmonary medicine of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Liaquat National Hospital and Aga Khan University Hospital in connection with the COPD Day, which is observed on November 19 every year.

The theme of the day this year was “breathless not helpless” with the emphasis that effective treatment is available to help COPD patients feel better and live a more active life.

PCS Sindh president Dr Mosavir Ansarie told the seminar that for suspected COPD cases, breathlessness was a signal that they should see their doctor and ask for a simple breathing test to check their lung function.

He observed that urban and rural populations in Pakistan were equally affected by the disease. Smoking and environmental pollution, as well as the burning of wood and biomass, were the factors contributing to the spread of COPD, he added.

Dr Nadeem Rizvi of the JPMC said COPD was a progressive lung disease which severely impaired patients’ quality of life. The diseases might become the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2020, he observed.

Dr Mohammad Hussain of the LNH spoke about an acute exacerbation of COPD patients while discussing the role of oxygen therapy and various medications according to their merits.

Dr Arshad Husain of the same hospital discussed the use of non-invasive ventilation, and said that it was a good tool that should be used more often in hospital settings for COPD exacerbation which could help decrease mortality and risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Dr Saulat Fatimi and Dr Suleman Haque of the AKUH also spoke.

A real-time video conference linking Peshawar and Karachi with London was also arranged. Addressing the conference, Professor Wisia Wedzicha said that 80 million people had moderate to severe COPD. More than three million people died from the diseases in 2005, which corresponds to 5 per cent of all deaths globally, she added.

She said that 90 per cent of COPD deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries.

Health practitioners agreed to continue to improve assessment and management of COPD, in part through better communication with their patients.

It was noted that the symptoms of COPD were not just a normal part of ageing patients and, as such, doctors should work together to ensure that the impact of the disease was assessed and appropriate treatment was given to patients.