Half of COPD patients misdiagnosed, says survey
pharmafile | June 9, 2006 | News story | Sales and Marketing |Â Â Â
A new survey of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has found nearly half have been misdiagnosed with asthma, meaning the condition could progress unchecked.
Primarily a disease of current and former smokers, COPD caused around 2.7 million deaths in 2000 – making it the world's fourth biggest killer disease, and it is set to move into third place by 2020. But a survey sponsored by Pfizer and Boehringer Ingelheim suggests many existing patients are failing to be diagnosed and treated.
Unlike asthma, COPD patients suffer deterioration in their condition - known as a 'cascade of decline' in their respiratory system that will, in time, disable them.
The study conducted in the US and in Scotland showed more than half of the 235 patients surveyed had been diagnosed with asthma only. Of the remaining patients, around 40% had been diagnosed with COPD, while 10% had received no diagnosis whatsoever.
"These findings are surprising given the availability of credible diagnosis and treatment guidelines specifically for COPD," noted Dr. Tinkelman, the clinical leader of the study. "Only through proper diagnosis and treatment will COPD patients fully benefit. Patients can benefit from lifestyle modification, pulmonary rehabilitation and proper pharmacotherapy that may help them breathe better and return to the activities they enjoy."
Pfizer and Boehringer Ingelheim co-market Spiriva, a blockbuster treatment for COPD which is competing with other respiratory brands to treat patients with the condition. Sales of Spiriva rose by 80% last year to $1.2 billion, and Boehringer Ingelheim says it is the most prescribed COPD drug in the world.
GlaxoSmithKline's Seretide is the worlds biggest respiratory drug, and is licensed for asthma and COPD. Sales of the drug, GSK's largest brand, rose nearly 19% in 2005 to $5.6 billion.
