Patients suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (“COPD”), a serious respiratory condition, have been struggling to access necessary medical attention during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Covid-19 pandemic has helped shine the spotlight on respiratory conditions and COPD in particular. Covid-19 tends to affect several organs in the body, but the greatest damage, in most cases, involves the respiratory system.
Researchers recently surveyed the experiences of persons in India, Russia, China and the United States, who are suffering from COPD during the pandemic. Awareness about respiratory conditions, and especially COPD, has increased since Covid-19 first emerged. About 60% of the surveyed persons reported that they have are now aware of COPD.
The researchers also found that patients suffering from COPD are reporting lower access to care as a result of the pandemic. Approximately 56% of patients reported that they had lower access to care since the pandemic struck, with 58% stating that their difficulties in accessing medical treatment have been “overwhelming.” About 68% of patients said that they were now much more worried about their condition compared to before the pandemic.
COPD includes conditions like chronic bronchitis and emphysema that are characterized by difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, frequent coughing, and other respiratory difficulties.