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A medical symposium co-organised by Emirates Allergy and Respiratory Society, in collaboration with Takeda Pharmaceuticals FZCO, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, yesterday evening (Wednesday 8th February, 2012) warned that while most chronic diseases in the UAE are being controlled, the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is rapidly increasing, with 4 per cent of the Abu Dhabi population affected by it, according to recent study done by Dr. Ashraf H. Alzaabi, Chair, Clinical Assistant Professor, UAE University, and Head, Respiratory Division, Zayed Military Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Dr. Mirza Ali Al Sayegh, President, Emirates Allergy and Respiratory Society said a new study on COPD is being conducted by the Society to cover the whole GCC region and its details would be announced soon.
Dr. Bassam Mahboub, Consultant Pulmonary Medicine, Asst. Prof. University of Sharjah, Head of Allergy and Respiratory Department, Dubai Hospital and Vice Chair Emirates Allergy and Respiratory Society Dubai, UAE said: “COPS is currently the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. The prevalence of smoking in the UAE is around 23 percent. The 4 percent figure of the COPD prevalence will rise as the smokers’ group in the UAE grows older.”
Professor Leonardo Fabbri, an expert from the University of Modena in Italy, Reggio Emilia, provided latest updates on COPD, which is still widely disregarded by most people.
Dr. Al Sayegh alerted participants that COPD is an under-diagnosed, life-threatening lung disease. COPD is used to describe chronic lung diseases in which breathing is severely restricted because of lung damage and inflammation. He emphasized that the disease is preventable and can be managed but it is progressive.
Professor Fabbri said: “The WHO estimates 80 million people have moderate to severe COPD worldwide. Three million people died from COPD, which corresponded to five percent of all deaths globally. Every hour COPD is estimated to kill more than 250 people worldwide, which means that COPD kills someone every 15 seconds. It is also costly to manage with the annual healthcare bill adding up to more than 10 billion Euros in the EU alone.”
Professor Fabbri emphasized that effective management of COPD should be aimed at improving daily control of the disease, including actions to relieve symptoms and improve exercise tolerance and quality of life. Another important goal is related to reducing future risk, including actions to prevent and treat exacerbations, prevent disease progression, treat complications and reduce mortality.
Dr. Osama Al-Nawasany, Medical Affairs Director, Takeda Pharmaceuticals FZCO, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, who organised the symposium added: “One of the most promising new treatments for COPD is Roflumilast, a first-in-class phosphodiesterase (PDE4) inhibitor that is the only licensed oral therapy that targets COPD-specific inflammation.”
At the symposium, Emirates Allergy and Respiratory Society launched, in collaboration with Takeda Pharmaceuticals FZCO, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a campaign to raise the awareness of the risks, prevention means and treatment for COPD that affects mostly smokers.
Professor Fabbri said that clinical studies have shown that Roflumilast is edacious in patients with severe COPD who have a history of frequent exacerbations and symptoms of chronic cough and sputum. In these patients, Roflumilast significantly reduces exacerbations and improves lung function when added to bronchodilators, making it easy for physicians to do more for patients who need additional treatment to reduce exacerbations.
The symposium pointed out that many people with COPD continue to suffer from frequent exacerbations and an increased risk of a more rapid disease progression. It is thus an important goal to identify these patients and to initiate actions to prevent exacerbations such as smoking cessation, influenza and pneumococcal vaccination, secure adherence to prescribed therapy or initiation of additional therapy.
Dr. Mahboub added: “Exacerbations are episodes of worsening of patients’ symptoms, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. COPD exacerbations are associated with increased airway and systemic inflammation as well as physiological changes in the lungs. They include increased breathlessness and a chronic cough, mucus production, extreme fatigue and other signs of health deterioration. They are triggered mainly by respiratory viruses and bacteria, which infect the lower airway and increase airway inflammation.”
Smoking cigarettes is the major cause of COPD in 80 per cent of cases. Other causes include: pollution generated by a number of domestic heaters and air pollution. Besides smoking cessation, there are several treatments, which should be closely monitored by qualified physicians. Self-medication is not an option for this disease.
Dr. Mahboub added: “A new class of tablets (called phosphodiesterase inhibitors), such as the new Roflumilast, hold great promise. This medication, when used with inhalators, has been shown to reduce “lung attacks” and improve lung function especially in severe cases.”
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