Shaping the Future of COPD Care: From Minimum to Optimal
A Call to Action to Stop Ignoring a Silent Disease Impacting Millions
Imagine coughing day after day. For years, you convince yourself that it is normal — a consequence of getting older, or perhaps it is just the cigarettes or the pollution in the air. But beneath the surface, your lungs are silently deteriorating, and the air does not flow as easyeasily as it used to. Then, one day, you receive a diagnosis you have never heard of: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). And, by the time you learn the name, it is often too late.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a silent killer affecting millions across Europe, yet it is frequently overlooked and misunderstood. COPD is more than just a smoker’s disease; it is a preventable, severe chronic lung condition that affects people of all ages, robbing them of their ability to breathe and live fully. Its profound impact on both individuals and society cannot be ignored.
The Urgent Need for Action
COPD remains the third leading cause of death globally, but it continues to be under-recognised in public health strategies. In 2013, EFA published the “Minimum Standards of Care for COPD Patients in Europe” report, which set a benchmark for COPD care across Europe. Now, ten years later, EFA’s 2023 COPD Standards of Care Project seeks to evaluate the progress made since then and address the current gaps in care.
Our new report provides a thorough analysis of the evolution of care standards since 2013, identifying successes, ongoing gaps, best national practices, and key policy recommendations. This project is a crucial step towards transforming the future of COPD care, moving from minimum standards to optimal care.
In this project, EFA will work with our community of members to assess the impact of COPD care across Europe and foster progress with new benchmarks and policy recommendations. By prioritising prevention and improving care, from early diagnosis to advanced and innovative treatments, we are paving the way for a future where COPD is comprehensively addressed, and optimal care becomes the standard.EFA and the ELHG have also already set in motion the #KeepBreathing campaign, a plan to improve lung health across three areas – prevention, care and research for a healthier, stronger and more resilient society in Europe. This is precisely what COPD urgently needs.
COPD Beyond Care: ongoing activities
The EFA COPD Standards of Care report will be a call to action with powerful patient stories and evidence-based findings. The report is available in a web-based format accessible through this link. A print-version format of the report will also be made available soon.
The EFA secretariat is also preparing content for the upcoming COPD EP SANT Committee Meeting in 2025.We will share insights from the report d during this meeting in order to strengthen advocacy at the European level.
Proactive measures can significantly change the course of this disease, preventing its progression and reducing its devastating impact on lives, healthcare systems, and communities. We envision a world where better care and prevention not only improve lives but also lead to healthier communities and lower healthcare costs.
In addition, we are organising a hybrid launch event that will take place in January 2025 This event will feature the report and continue discussions to continue placing the spotlight on transforming the future of COPD care.
Next steps
The insights gathered in this report are just the beginning. We must move beyond minimum standards to achieve optimal care, reducing the burden on patients, healthcare systems, and society. EFA is working on a strategy to create a COPD Barometer that will provide a further comprehensive and synoptic view of the management of COPD in different EU countries, thereby facilitating the identification of trends and gaps, as well as identify best practices and solutions to improve the patients’ quality of care.
The stakes are high, and the time to act is now. Join us in shaping the future of COPD care and ensuring that this silent disease receives the attention it deserves.
EFA is thankful to its sustainable corporate partners Roche and Sanofi and Regeneron Alliance for their unrestricted grants 2023 for the COPD Standards of Care project that made this Report possible. EFA is also thankful to its sustainable corporate partners AstraZeneca, Roche and Sanofi and Regeneron Alliance for their unrestricted grants 2024 for this COPD Beyond Care project.