What do COPD patients want to know?

Aims: COPD is an extremely widespread chronic obstructive disease of the bronchi and lungs that causes invalidity and deep personal suffering. In our country COPD affects at least 2.6 million people, and is responsible each year for nearly 130,000 hospital admissions and 18,000 deaths. Material and methods: All the scientific evidence accumulated in the context of the GOLD and ERS/ATS guidelines indicate the need to work at the level of prevention of risk factors, amongst which cigarette smoking occupies the first place, early and accurate diagnosis, and equality of access to treatment in correspondence to the most recent scientific acquisitions and the continuity of health care and social assistance. Despite this, the disease remains heavily underestimated, underdiagnosed and inadequately treated; life expectancy is reduced; the severest forms, requiring oxygen therapy or ventilatory assistance, are on the increase; and patients and care-givers are totally dissatisfied and ask for a better respect for their rights. Results: The dialogue with the scientific associations and the Institutions must focus on the critical points and the difficulties to be overcome and above all it should seek to identify what can be done in concrete terms to improve prevention, disease management and the health care and social assistance provided. Priorities are: diagnosis, treatment and care programmes, global approach to a systemic disease, clinical care modes. Conclusions: COPD represents a major burden within the public health system and the goat to reduce its growing epidemiological and socio-economic impact cannot be achieved without listening to the real needs and expectations of the patients themselves. The most important request of COPD patients is that an alliance be created, i.e. a collective conscience, so that the patient's dignity is fully recognized, injustices in the care system are overcome and necessary support from public opinion and the Institutions is obtained.