Lung patients miss out

COPD patients praise medical but get too little social support

Patients with chronic lung diseases are missing out on top quality care.

Researchers say they are not receiving the same level of support services provided to terminally ill lung cancer patients even though their condition can also be fatal.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by difficulty breathing and a chronic cough.

The Hull researchers found COPD patients are often stranded at home with little support. Ninety per cent suffered from depression.

In contrast, lung cancer sufferers have access to a wide network of support such as palliative care services, and have lower levels of depression.

Housebound

Fifty patients with inoperable lung cancer and 50 with severe COPD, all over 60, were questioned about their quality of life.

Eighty per cent of COPD patients were housebound, with 36% largely confined to a chair. In comparison, 36% of lung cancer patients were housebound, and only 10% chair-bound.

Survival figures for COPD are worse than for many of the common cancers.

But though the Hull researchers found most were happy with the medical care they received, patients said they had a worse quality of life and poorer support than cancer sufferers.

COPD facts

18 of men and 7% of women between 40 and 64 are affected

Causes 1,000 hospital admissions and 25,000 primary care consultations in an average health area per year

6.4% of male deaths and 3.9% of female deaths are from COPD

The researchers say: "COPD does not appear to be regarded as a high profile illness by the public or health professionals."

They say the patients' need for palliative care "remains unrecognised".

"It is tempting to speculate that the common view of this condition as a self-inflicted disease and its lengthy time course have allowed it to be relegated in the hierarchy of areas for action and concern," the researchers said.

Ninety per cent of COPD patients had suffered anxiety or depression, but only 52% of lung cancer patients had similar problems. Only a fraction of either group had received treatment.

Lack of support

A third of the patients with lung cancer had help from a specialist cancer nurse or hospice and over half knew the services were available.

None of the COPD patients knew whether such help was available.

Just 24% received ad hoc visits from a community respiratory support nurse.

Generally, patients with chronic lung disease get a bum deal

Dr Michael Morgan
British Lung Foundation

The researchers are calling for an increase of the current figure of 300 respiratory support nurses across the UK.

They said: "Given the prevalence of severe COPD in the community, these numbers are clearly inadequate."

Dr Michael Morgan is chair of the British Lung Foundation's Breathe Easy Club for people suffering COPD.

He said: "Generally, patients with chronic lung disease get a bum deal."

More resources

Dr John Harvey, of the British Thoracic Society said care for COPD patients should not stop when they leave the hospital gates.

"We need more resources at a local and national level to address this inadequate provision of care."

The research is published in Thorax.