“I know I have this till my Last Breath”: Unmasking the Gaps in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Care in India

What is it about?

COPD is an incurable Chronic Respiratory Disease that results in restricted airflow and respiratory issues. India faces rising pollu- tion and health infrastructure challenges, significantly contributing to the prevalence of respiratory diseases like COPD. Studies have reported that COPD is India’s second leading cause of death and Disability Adjusted Life Years. Our study delves into the current state of COPD care and awareness in India. Our mixed-methods re- search, encompassing online surveys with medical personnel (n=9) and individuals (n=141) and semi-structured interviews (n=13) with various stakeholders (patients, doctors and caregivers), revealed a noteworthy lack of COPD awareness amongst the public, con- sequently affecting the COPD diagnosis, treatment and manage- ment strategies. We further explored how COPD affects patients’ self-perception and quality of life while identifying the barriers to COPD care. Finally, we conclude with design recommendations for technology-based interventions which can support the manage- ment of COPD patients in the Indian context.

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Why is it important?

Fuelled by the large population, limited healthcare facilities , increasing urbanization, limited resources and rising pollution, the impact of CRDs is adverse in India, which will likely worsen in the coming years. The rising air pollution poses a considerable socio- economic burden in India. Of the total DALYs caused by COPD in India in 2016, 53.7% are attributed to air pollution. While India is projected to bear the third absolute economic burden of COPD in 2020-2050 after China and USA, spirometry, which is the primary lung function test for diagnosing COPD, remains underutilized in India. Despite its increasing prevalence and substantial impact on the India’s healthcare system, COPD remains under-researched, leaving critical gaps in our under- standing of its risk factors, diagnosis, socio-economic implications, and the effectiveness of prevention and management strategies within the Indian population.

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