Spain: rise in COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) hides major underdiagnosis
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Spanish pneumology experts are calling for better detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), amid evidence that only one of five cases is diagnosed. The incidence of COPD has risen significantly in Spain in recent years. It currently affects 9.2% of the population aged 40-69 years, accounting for 7% of all hospital admissions and 2% of the overall healthcare budget. However, a recent study found that 78.2% of cases were undiagnosed and that more than half of all cases classed as severe were not being treated.