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Updated
Reading 3 mins.
in collaboration with
Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director)
Medical validation:
April 21, 2023
While repeated and chronic respiratory disorders affect more than a quarter of French people, information about asthma and COPD is often insufficient among the general public. However, it is necessary to access effective treatment.
Do you know the symptoms of what is called asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and do you know if you have them? If you are hesitating, know that you are far from alone: while chronic respiratory diseases are frequent in the population, their prevention and the care they are given are today very insufficient according to the conclusions of an Ifop survey. revealed on April 19.
28% of French people are affected by respiratory disorders
Chiesi, an Italian biopharmaceutical group involved in the field of respiratory diseases, therefore carried out a survey on French people’s knowledge of asthma and COPD. It appears that :
- Repeated respiratory disorders, such as coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing, affect just over 1/4 of French people (28%);
- The youngest are the most affected (18-24 years: 46%) and we note that it is women under 35 who are more likely to present with these respiratory disorders;
- Asthma is a pathology that is very well known to the general public (91%) and 7 out of 10 French people (68%) say they know its symptoms precisely;
- Comparatively, COPD suffers from a lack of notoriety: 50% of French people claim to have heard of this disease and only 1 in 5 French people know its symptoms precisely;
- Quite logically, those who know the symptoms of these diseases the most are those who repeatedly experience respiratory pathologies (asthma: 73%, COPD: 29%).
These results demonstrate that the information concerning these respiratory pathologies remains largely insufficient in France. However, asthma and COPD are chronic, frequent and potentially serious pathologies. In France, asthma affects more than 4 million people, and COPD affects 3 to 3.5 million people. It is therefore essential to raise public awareness of the symptoms, treatments and means of screening.
The spirometry test, an examination that is too little known
The other information from this survey lies in the attitude of the French towards these respiratory disorders. Because despite their prevalence within the population, breath measurement, via a spirometry test, remains a relatively unknown and little practiced screening examination.
Only 48% of French people are aware of this examination, and barely more among those questioned declaring repeated respiratory problems (58%). This is partly explained by the fact that their realization remains uncommon (21% of French people have already carried out this test), even among people affected by repeated respiratory disorders (36%).
To address this issue, Chiesi has also launched a public awareness campaign: Itinér’Air, a tour of France to support screening and support for patients with asthma and COPD.
“When we talk about chronic diseases, we don’t think enough about respiratory diseases”
For Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo, the lack of knowledge and responsiveness to a respiratory disorder is encountered on a daily basis:
“ Much has been said so far about chest pain, and cardiovascular disease, but not enough attention is paid to the fact that respiratory diseases are also chronic diseases, which may require diagnosis and treatment. When we think of chronic disease, we think of cardiovascular disease and not respiratory disease.”
However, consultation and management of these symptoms by your general practitioner are important.
“Dyspnea, for example, can be a sign of a heart or lung problem. It is then up to the doctor to direct his patient for spirometry to the pulmonologist or allergist, who will make it possible to determine COPD, asthma… This is important, because taken early and well treated, a COPD can be reversible. You can also prevent asthma from getting worse”.
Indeed, in the 400 breath measurements taken over the Itinér’air stages, 25% of the people tested had to be reoriented in a care pathway, i.e. 1 in 4 people.