Survey: COVID-19 Hurt Care Access for COPD Patients

More than 70 percent of COPD patients have needed to seek emergency care during COVID-19 so far, but roughly one in four of those patients opted not to go.

• By David Kopf
• Nov 19, 2020

More than 70 percent of COPD patients have needed to seek emergency care during COVID-19, but roughly one in four of them opted not to go, according to a survey from respiratory equipment maker Philips.

The survey covered more than 4,000 adults in China, India, Russia and the United States, and also found that 58 percent of patients described managing their COPD during the pandemic as “completely overwhelming.”  

Other findings:

• 56 percent of COPD patients report that COVID-19 has made it difficult for them to get treatment. 
• 68 percent of COPD patients report they worry much more than they used to about their chronic condition because of the pandemic. 
• 79 percent of informal caregivers of a COPD patient say the pandemic has impacted the amount of care they provide, with 41 percent report giving more care.
• 90 percent of COPD patients are trying to improve their respiratory health.

The survey also showed that while COVID-19 created difficulty for COPD patients, it also raised awareness for the condition.

“Due to the nature of the COVID-19 virus, respiratory health has become a daily conversation across the globe,” said Huiling Zhang, Head of Medical Office for Connected Care at Philips. “Despite impacting millions of people around the world, COPD isn’t talked about as often as other chronic conditions like heart disease. 

“We conducted this survey to shed light on the unique burdens and stresses that COPD patients face every day, intensified during this time,” he continued. “The survey results show that more than ever, respiratory health – and taking action to improve it – is a priority, but that the impacts of the pandemic have been especially felt by the COPD community, whom we work so hard to support with our respiratory solutions.”

In terms of increased awareness, the survey showed that nearly three in five people reported being more familiar with COPD since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, 52 percent of respondents reported being familiar with COPD, while since the pandemic, the number has risen to 72 percent. Philips noted that the increase might be linked to the increased education around respiratory illnesses due to COVID-19. 

For more survey findings and data, visit Philips.com/WorldCOPDDay.