Understanding and Tackling COPD in Texas: A Call to Action

The Impact of COPD in Texas

The economic toll of COPD in Texas is significant. The state spends over $2.35 billion annually on medical costs associated with COPD. Additionally, absenteeism due to the condition costs the state approximately $3.7 million each year. Recognizing this burden, lawmakers in Texas have made efforts to elevate the conversation around COPD. For instance, in 2013, the Texas legislature designated November as COPD Awareness Month for a 10-year period. This initiative ensured that the Texas Department of State Health Services included COPD in its chronic health condition education and public awareness efforts.

Despite these advances, more must be done to address the challenges of COPD effectively.

Policy Priorities for Improving COPD Outcomes

To truly make a difference, policymakers should consider taking the following steps to elevate COPD as a public health priority:

• Increase Awareness and Education: Effective public health campaigns are essential for raising awareness of COPD risk factors, symptoms, and available treatments. By doing so, more patients can receive early diagnoses and timely interventions.
• Improve Access to Screening and Treatment: Ensuring that patients have access to comprehensive screening and all available treatment options can significantly impact their quality of life. The first step to managing COPD effectively is a diagnosis, and patients should be empowered to explore all medical resources.
• Ensure Funding for COPD Research: To advance our understanding of COPD and continue developing innovative treatments, research funding is crucial. It is essential for finding new therapies and improving existing ones.
• Elevate COPD as a Public Health Priority: This step involves acknowledging COPD as a significant health challenge that affects millions of Texans and supporting policy changes that prioritize the condition within the healthcare system.

COPD Action Alliance: Advocating for a Better Future

The COPD Action Alliance is a leading advocacy coalition dedicated to improving outcomes for COPD patients. The Alliance brings together stakeholders to push for patient-centered policies at both state and federal levels. Through their efforts, they aim to:

• Encourage Policies that Elevate the COPD Community: By collaborating with policymakers, the Alliance seeks to ensure COPD is recognized as a public health priority.
• Improve COPD Awareness and Education: The Alliance works to increase public understanding of COPD, addressing stigma and empowering patients with knowledge.
• Ensure Access to Appropriate Care: Advocating for better access to screenings, treatments, and clinical resources is central to the Alliance’s mission.
• Prioritize the Clinician-Patient Relationship: The Alliance emphasizes the importance of communication and trust between healthcare providers and patients, leading to more effective and personalized care.

What is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that restricts airflow and causes difficulty breathing. Common symptoms include chronic coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and an inability to breathe deeply. While a history of smoking remains a primary risk factor, 25% of those diagnosed with COPD have never smoked. Other factors include long-term exposure to lung irritants, a history of asthma, and genetic conditions such as Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

If left untreated, COPD can severely impact a person’s daily activities and quality of life. Unfortunately, two out of three adults COPD have not visited their healthcare provider, which delays essential care and intervention.

Raising Awareness and Expanding Treatment Options

The good news for COPD patients is that effective treatments are available. Beyond traditional medications like steroids and inhalers, innovative biologic treatments have shown promise in improving lung function. Recently, a breakthrough injectable medication was approved, the first in over a decade, offering new hope to COPD patients.

However, raising awareness remains vital to ensuring patients receive timely diagnoses and access to these innovative treatments. Reducing the stigma associated with COPD is also essential so that patients feel comfortable seeking the medical attention they need.

The Path Forward

COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide and the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. It is twice as common in rural areas as in large cities, pointing to the need for targeted awareness and healthcare interventions in rural communities.

The COPD Action Alliance, in collaboration with policymakers, healthcare providers, and community leaders, aims to create a future where patients have the support and resources they need to manage their condition effectively. With increased awareness, expanded research, and improved healthcare access, Texans living with COPD can look forward to better outcomes and a higher quality of life.

To learn more about COPD and the COPD Action Alliance’s efforts, please visit copdactionalliance.org. For additional resources, check out the COPD Fact Sheet, watch a video introduction to the Alliance, or read about the latest breakthroughs in biologic treatments for COPD.