COPD Patients Reveal Disease Progression Leads to Physical and Social Isolation and Increased Reliance on the Internet(1)

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Nov. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, revealed that they perceive their disease as both a burden they must deal with and as a loss they have experienced,(1) according to recent in-home research conducted by GlaxoSmithKline.  Patients participating in the research characterized their sense of loss as a combination of factors including loss of energy, loss of control, loss of independence and loss of their old self.  They also suggested that COPD prevents them from living life to its fullest(1).  As the disease progresses, research participants report they've become increasingly limited in what they can do and more reliant on the internet as a source of important information on how to help manage their illness and as a means to interact with other people who can share in their experiences(1).

Patients with COPD can learn more on how to manage their disease by visiting www.COPD.com.  For the 12 million individuals diagnosed with COPD in the United States(2), www.COPD.com offers an easily accessible online destination to help inform them on their disease and its different stages and offers them things to consider that may help them live with COPD.  For caregivers, www.COPD.com offers information on how to care for a loved one with COPD.

About COPD

As the fourth leading cause of death in the United States(3), there are about 120,000 deaths attributed to COPD annually, more than breast cancer and diabetes combined(4). Every four minutes, someone dies from COPD in the United States(5). In addition to the 12 million individuals diagnosed with COPD, there are an additional 12 million people estimated with undiagnosed COPD(6).

COPD is a progressive, life-threatening lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It is characterized by airflow obstruction, which leads to the hallmark symptoms of COPD - chronic cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath, increased effort to breathe and increased mucus production. Over time, patients with COPD suffer from shortness of breath so severe that it interferes with the most basic daily activities including sleeping, talking, and even dressing.

About World COPD Day

World COPD Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) to improve awareness and care of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) around the world. World COPD Day 2010 will take place on November 17 around the theme "2010 - The Year of the Lung: Measure your lung health - Ask your doctor about a simple breathing test called spirometry."

About the Research

In-home interviews were conducted with 16 COPD patients in Phoenix, AZ, and New York, NY.  The goals of the interviews were to uncover first-hand insights into how the disease impacts patient lives; understand who the COPD sufferer is, including lifestyle elements and life goals that may be compromised because of COPD; and to identify perceptions about COPD and participants' core emotions in living with the disease.

Respondents had a range of disease severity and included a representative mix of respondents in terms of age, income level, race, and education.

All research participants had been diagnosed with COPD, including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema. The in-home setting also enabled engagement with patient family members to see how living with the condition affects the caregiver.  

GlaxoSmithKline – one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.  For further information go to us.gsk.com, follow us on twitter.com/GSKUS or visit our blog (www.morethanmedicine.us.gsk.com/blog/).

References:

1. GlaxoSmithKline In-Home COPD Research Findings: Data on File 2009
2. National Heart Lung and Blood Institutes.  Morbidity and Mortality: 2009 Chartbook on Cardiovascular, Lung and Blood Diseases.
3. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.  COPD Key Points.  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Copd/Copd_KeyPoints.html; Accessed 7/2010
4. National Center for Health Statistics.  Deaths:  Final data for 2006. www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr57/nvsr57_14.pdf.  Updated April 17, 2009.  
5. COPD Foundation: Facts about COPD; 2008.
6. National Heart Lung and Blood Institutes.  Morbidity and Mortality: 2009 Chartbook on Cardiovascular, Lung and Blood Diseases.

SOURCE GlaxoSmithKline