The Ministry of Health described the optimal strategy for managing patients with COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently in fifth or sixth place among the causes of death in the population, while about 95% of COPD cases in our country are associated with tobacco smoking, Sergey Avdeev, chief freelance pulmonologist at the Ministry of Health, told Izvestia.

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He noted that COPD treatment is based on two main strategies: drug and non-drug therapy. Moreover, the latter, according to him, plays a critical role in improving the prognosis of the disease.

"Non—drug methods include mandatory smoking cessation, regular vaccination to prevent respiratory infections, and active stimulation of patients to increase physical activity," Avdeev emphasized.

He also stated that significant progress has been made in the field of drug treatment in recent years: highly effective combined drugs containing double and triple combinations of active substances have been developed.

"It is fundamentally important to have proven data on their effect on reducing mortality, which can be called a significant achievement in COPD therapy," said Avdeev.

However, despite this, according to him, timely diagnosis and ensuring high patient adherence to prescribed treatment remain key tasks.

"Compliance with these conditions can significantly increase the life expectancy of patients with COPD," he added.

An integrated approach to therapy, including medicinal and non-medicinal methods, as well as the use of modern technologies, will be the optimal strategy in the management of patients with COPD, Avdeev concluded.

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