New Survey Provides Insights for Patients and Caregivers Managing COPD
November 30, 2009
For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Julie Piszczor
Powell Tate
202-585-2106
Patients Report Improved Quality of Life When Well-Informed and Use Appropriate Therapy
Basking Ridge, N.J., November 2009—A recent attitudinal survey of patients living with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and those who provide care for someone with COPD found that patients feel better about themselves and their situation when their disease is managed properly. In a telephone survey commissioned by the COPD Foundation and Dey Pharma L.P., 400 patients and 400 caregivers were asked about their thoughts on nebulization therapy and how they manage their COPD. Nebulization therapy is one example of treatment that can help patients manage COPD successfully with medication.
Survey findings indicate that well-informed patients with self-reported, moderate breathing conditions are most likely to have high levels of satisfaction with their current mode of therapy. The survey also reported that nine in 10 patients who use nebulizers, a form of treatment for COPD, reported satisfaction with their current treatments. Additionally caregivers surveyed were significantly more likely than patients to wish that those they cared for had been placed on nebulization therapy sooner.
“We are proud to have helped support the COPD Foundation in conducting this unique and insightful survey. At Dey, our primary objectives include improving patient education and products that help patients manage their COPD to the extent that it can enhance one’s quality of life,” said Carolyn Myers, Ph.D., president of Dey. “This survey is a good example of how research can empower patients and caregivers to better manage their condition or that of their patients.”
Managing COPD
Patients with COPD most often report symptoms of breathlessness, coughing, wheezing and tightness in the chest that may affect one’s quality of life by limiting participation in physical activity or routine, daily tasks. Along with the advice from their physicians, many patients and caregivers can manage COPD, with the role of caregiver being very important for many patients living with the disease. Physicians may recommend lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, rehabilitation exercises and medical treatment – including nebulization.
“COPD patients and their caregivers can make an incredible difference working together to improve their quality of life by being proactive in the day-to-day management of their health,” said John Walsh, president of the COPD Foundation. “Caregivers are the unsung heroes that help keep patients on track and focus on achieving a better, active lifestyle.”
Benefits of Nebulization
Although the survey did not measure efficacy, it found that most patients and caregivers reported that the benefits of nebulization – mainly the perception of easier and more comfortable breathing – outweigh any challenges or constraints; specifically:
- 80% of patients and caregivers surveyed preferred using a nebulizer over only an inhaler, a device that delivers medication directly to the lungs.
- 68% of patients reported easier breathing as the most positive aspect of nebulization therapy, and 86% reported a more comfortable feeling in their chest as a result of their nebulization use.
Active living was also a factor, with patients noting their daily activity improved since initiating the nebulization therapy.
- 74% agreed they have been able to be more physically active in their daily lives.
- 25% of patients surveyed cited the immobility of the nebulizer as a disadvantage of the therapy.
About the Surveys
The telephone surveys, commissioned by the COPD Foundation and Dey, fielded responses from 400 COPD patients as well as 400 persons who provide care for someone with COPD. Completed by KRC Research in the first quarter of 2009, the survey probed attitudes and practices of both groups and aimed to identify parallels and differences between the two.
About COPD
COPD is a preventable and treatable disease with some significant extrapulmonary effects that may contribute to the severity in individual patients. Its pulmonary component is characterized by chronic airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. The airflow limitation is usually progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lung to noxious particles or gases.
COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in America, behind heart disease, cancer and stroke. It is estimated that 24 million people in America have COPD. Only one-half of these people have been diagnosed with COPD; the other half have symptoms of the disease, but have not been diagnosed. COPD is not well understood or recognized and most Americans have not heard of it, not even those who may be living with the condition. The most common cause of COPD is cigarette smoking, which is responsible for an estimated 80-90% of COPD cases. For patients who smoke, quitting smoking is the single most important step a patient can take to treat or slow down COPD.
About Nebulization
A nebulizer is a type of device used to deliver bronchodilators to the lungs in the treatment of COPD. Nebulizers convert medication into a fine liquid mist that the patient inhales through a mouthpiece or facemask. The patient breathes naturally, inhaling the medicine until the complete dosage has been delivered. Nebulization is a very gentle and reliable method of delivering medicine directly into the lungs. COPD patients should consider asking their doctor whether nebulized treatment may be right for them.
About Dey
Dey Pharma L.P., a subsidiary of Mylan Inc. (Nasdaq: MYL), is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacturing and marketing of prescription drug products for the treatment of respiratory diseases, severe allergic reactions and psychiatric disorders. The company puts patients first and facilitates efficient, cost-effective partnerships with customers. For more information, please visit http://www.dey.com.
About Mylan
Mylan Inc., which provides products to customers in more than 140 countries and territories, ranks among the leading diversified generics and specialty pharmaceutical companies in the world. The company maintains one of the industry’s broadest and highest quality product portfolios, supported by a robust product pipeline; owns the world’s third largest active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturer; and operates a specialty business focused on respiratory and allergy therapies. For more information, please visit http://www.mylan.com.
About the COPD Foundation
The COPD Foundation was created in 2004. The organization’s mission is to develop and support programs that improve the quality of life through research, education, early diagnosis and enhanced therapy for persons whose lives are impacted by COPD. For more information about COPD or the Foundation, please visit http://www.copdfoundation.org.