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What is COPD?

Outline of COPD and the impacts
What Is Copd
COPD is a preventable and treatable disease characterised by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation caused by significant exposure to noxious particles or gases.

The chronic airflow limitation is caused by a mixture of small airways disease.

COPD Diagram (Image: © The University of Edinburgh (2020) CC BY-SA 4.0)

Impact of COPD

  • Not able to work: 1 in 4 adults with COPD
  • Limit their activities because of health problems: Half of adults with COPD
  • Difficulty walking or climbing stairs: More than 1 in 3 adults with COPD
  • Need to use special equipment for health problems: Nearly 1 in 4 adults with COPD
  • Medical costs: Higher for adults with COPD than those without COPD

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Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRD) in Primary Care Settings

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