Understanding the Gaps in the Reporting of COPD Exacerbations by Patients: A Review

Abstract

Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with loss of lung function, poor quality of life, loss of exercise capacity, risk of serious cardiovascular events, hospitalization, and death. However, patients underreport exacerbations, and evidence suggests that unreported exacerbations have similar negative health implications for patients as those that are reported. Whilst there is guidance for physicians to identify patients who are at risk of exacerbations, they do not help patients recognise and report them. Newly developed tools, such as the COPD Exacerbation Recognition Tool (CERT) have been designed to achieve this objective. This review focuses on the underreporting of COPD exacerbations by patients, the factors associated with this, the consequences of underreporting, and potential solutions.

Keywords:

• COPD
• exacerbations
• underreporting

Acknowledgment

EVERSANA provided medical writing and editorial support and was funded by GSK.

Authors’ contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis, and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising, or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure statement

Paul Jones is a contractor to GSK and owns GSK stocks and shares.

Ashraf Alzaabi is an employee of UAE University and Zayed Military Hospital and reports no conflict of interest.

Alejandro Casas Herrera has received support for the support meeting from GSK; has received honoraria for lectures and attending meetings from GSK (Colombia, Chile, and Global) and Sanofi (Colombia); and has received honoraria for lectures from AstraZeneca (Colombia and LATAM) and Boehringer Ingelheim (Colombia and Ecuador).

Mehmet Polatli is an employee of the Aydin Adnan Menderes University in Turkey and reports no conflicts of interest in this work.

Marcelo Fouad Rabahi is an employee of the Federal University of Goias in Brazil and reports no conflicts of interest in this work.

Arturo Cortes-Telles has received honoraria for lectures from GSK and Johnson & Johnson; received honoraria for lectures and manuscript writing from AstraZeneca and Chiesi; and has received support for attending meetings from AstraZeneca and Chiesi.

Bhumika Aggarwal is an employee of GSK and holds shares in GSK.

Sudeep Acharya is an employee of GSK and holds shares in GSK.

Abdelkader El Hasnaoui is an employee of GSK and holds shares in GSK.

Chris Compton is an employee of GSK and holds shares in GSK.

Additional information

Funding

GSK funded the medical writing and journal submission for this review article.