Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control
Chronic Respiratory Diseases

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a common and important health problem among seniors in Canada. The number of individuals with COPD will likely increase in the future because of the aging population. While cigarette smoking is the principal cause of COPD, workplace exposures and outdoor air pollution contribute to the development or the exacerbation of COPD. Exposure of the fetus and young child to environmental tobacco smoke and repeated respiratory infections contributes to a decrease in lung function that can contribute to COPD in later life.

As their disease progresses, individuals with COPD experience a reduced quality of life due to limited activity levels caused by an increase in shortness of breath. Their families face not only the challenge of providing an increasing level of care, but also the difficulty of watching the relentless progression of the disease in their loved one. The costs associated with COPD affect the family, the health care system, and the community as a whole with loss in productivity and the need for additional services.

The greatest gains in terms of the prevention of COPD lie in smoking prevention and cessation, and environmental control to reduce secondary exposure to tobacco smoke, as well as a reduction in outdoor air pollution. The management of COPD must include:

• Improved early diagnosis;
• Appropriate use of medications and oxygen to relieve symptoms;
• Financial assistance for medications and oxygen;
• Prevention and treatment of exacerbations and complications;
• Cessation of smoking;
• Continued physical activity and healthy nutrition, combined with pulmonary rehabilitation; and
• The education of the individual and family.

A comprehensive range of co-ordinated services from primary care to emergency, hospitalization, specialist care, pulmonary rehabilitation, home care, and supportive housing would enhance the individual's and family's ability to optimize the individual's quality of life, and would slow the progression of the disease.

A variety of system supports such as collaborative planning, surveillance, research, and ongoing education of service providers is needed to ensure that prevention and management policies, programs and services are directed in order to provide the most benefit on improving the health of the population.