The prevalence of COPD in the UK paints a sad picture of inequalities
The importance of early diagnosis
Like many health conditions, diagnosing COPD at an earlier stage makes managing it easier, helping patients live healthier, and potentially longer, lives.
An early diagnosis allows healthcare professionals to monitor progression, manage symptoms and reduce the likelihood of harmful exacerbations.
Therefore, as well as improving the health and quality-of-life of patients, earlier diagnosis can reduce the significant burden COPD places on the NHS.
Although COPD is currently the second largest cause of emergency admissions17, there are stark inequalities in prevalence of the condition in the UK. A person from the most deprived section of society is almost twice as likely to have COPD than someone from the least deprived sections of society.16
Sanofi has consolidated data and created an interactive map showing the prevalence of COPD and outcomes related to the different integrated care systems.
View our live map here
An opportunity for change
COPD is the second leading cause of emergency hospital admissions and accounts for 1.4 million GP consultations every year.15,14
With prevalence of COPD expected to rise, these impacts are only set to worsen unless a coordinated, targeted approach to tackle COPD is taken by the Government, NHS and industry.15
The Government’s welcome focus on rebuilding the NHS and fostering a healthier, more productive population lends itself to an urgent and laser-like approach to improve COPD outcomes in the UK.
The Government should develop a specific Respiratory Health Action Plan. This will facilitate a coordinated and focused approach to improving respiratory health.
To find out more about the focus key focus areas to improving respiratory health read our full report here
References
14 NICE (2024), COPD: How common is it? Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/chronic-obstructive-pulmonarydisease/background-information/prevalence-incidence/ (Accessed November 2024)
15 NHS England, Digital service to manage high-risk chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Available at: https://transform.england.nhs.uk/key-tools-and-info/ digital-playbooks/respiratory-digital-playbook/digitalservice-to-manage-high-risk-chronic-obstructivepulmonary-disease-copd-patients/#:~:text=COPD%20 exacerbations%20are%20the%20second,billion%20by%20 2030%20is%20predicted. (Accessed November 2024)
16 The battle for breath report. British Lung Foundation. 2016. Available at: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/battle-breath-report [last accessed Nov 2023].
17 Snell N., et al (2016) Epidemiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the UK: Findings from the British Lung Foundation’s ‘respiratory health of the nation’ project. Thorax, 71(3). https://doi.org/10.1136/ thoraxjnl-2016-209333.38
MAT-XU-2500118 V1.0 February 2025