In order to improve diagnosis, pulmonologists draw attention to the concept of pre-COPD.
- In France, COPD affects 10% of 40-64 year olds and causes more than 18,000 deaths per year.
- “Pre-COPD applies to symptomatic patients without respiratory abnormalities for whom preventive measures – smoking cessation, physical activity, etc. – have a role to play early, without waiting for the onset of obstructive ventilatory disorder (OVD) ” explain the pulmonologists.
- The main warning signs of pre-COPD are chronic cough, frequent expectoration (sputum) and dyspnea (shortness of breath).
Already high, the prevalence and impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) will continue to increase and will soon become the third cause of mortality in the world. “In this context, early detection, action on precursor factors as well as better knowledge of the disease constitute a major challenge for its management, today and in future years”explained during the CPLF (29th French Language Pneumology Congress) doctor Hervé Pegliascopulmonologist at the European Hospital of Marseille.
In this dynamic, specialists have put forward the notion of pre-COPD. “Initially defined by the Gold (Global Initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease)the pre-COPD had been deleted in the 2022 report. It has just found its place with the Gold 2023″they congratulate themselves. “Pre-COPD applies to symptomatic patients without respiratory abnormalities for whom preventive measures – smoking cessation, physical activity, etc. – have a role to play early, without waiting for the onset of obstructive ventilatory disorder (OVD) *”, they add.
Symptoms of pre-COPD: chronic cough, sputum and shortness of breath
The main warning signs of pre-COPD are chronic cough, frequent expectoration (sputum) and dyspnea (shortness of breath). “Early detection of the disease relies on questioning to detect patients at risk”, say the experts. “In France as in other countries, the underdiagnosis of COPD is very high, the identification of the disease being most often established at an advanced stage. In fact, treatment begins when the disease is already well established. installed”, they lament.
On this specific point, however, Health Insurance indicates “that early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can slow down the deterioration of respiratory function and the progression of COPD. In the absence of early treatment, the disease worsens.”
“All health professionals and pulmonologists must therefore be interested in the development of respiratory function and the elements influencing it, by carrying out an assessment of this function much earlier, particularly in the case of risk factors and symptoms. . Thus, premature children and/or those who have repeated infections, even if they are not asthmatic, must be subject to early and regular monitoring.” concludes Doctor Hervé Pégliasco.
In France, COPD causes more than 18,000 deaths per year
The High Authority of Health (HAS) defines COPD as a chronic respiratory disease characterized by permanent and progressive obstruction of the airways. She affects 10% of 40-64 year olds in France and is responsible for an alteration of quality of life, hospitalizations or even deaths (18,000 French people per year). The main risk factors for this pathology are well known: tobacco and environmental factors (atmospheric pollution, heating with wood or coal, occupational exposure to gas, vapors and smoke).
*An obstructive ventilatory disorder (or “syndrome obstructive”) is due to a trouble ventilation of bronchial origin (decrease in air flow in the respiratory tract) caused by asthma or by COPD.
