Australia unveils world-leading COPD Standard to tackle soaring hospital admissions

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has officially launched the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Clinical Care Standard, a long-anticipated blueprint aimed at improving care for COPD patients.

This standard, which has been embraced by Lung Foundation Australia, builds on the COPD-X Guidelines that were first established in 2001 in collaboration with the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ).

Respiratory physician Associate Professor Natasha Smallwood from The Alfred Hospital Melbourne, and President-Elect of The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, said the Standard describes the care COPD patients should receive to improve their health longer term.

“The new Standard recognises the immense impact of COPD as a significant illness in Australia and as one of the leading causes of preventable hospital admissions,” she said. 

The new Standards offer comprehensive, evidence-based guidance for the diagnosis, management, and treatment of COPD, including managing exacerbations, which are a leading cause of preventable hospital admissions.

Medical Advisor for the Commission and general practitioner, Dr Lee Fong, said it was important to identify COPD early, so that people could manage the condition and slow its progression.

“Most COPD medicines are given through an inhaler, but with multiple inhaler types, it’s really important to know how to use them properly to get the full dose. You may be surprised what a difference it makes,” she said.

National Asthma Council Australia released a new version of its asthma and COPD medication chart last month, which contains vital information for healthcare professionals who manage and care for patients with asthma.

Associate Professor Debbie Rigby, the Council’s clinical executive lead, said “Inhalers should be selected in discussion with an individual patient, based on their preferences, satisfaction with the inhaler device, dexterity and cognition, peak inspiratory flow rate and preference for inhalers with a low carbon footprint.”

With approximately 1 in 13 Australians aged 40 and over affected by COPD, the introduction of the Standard provides much-needed clarity for both healthcare professionals and patients.

Mark Brooke, CEO of Lung Foundation Australia, welcomed the release of the new Standard, noting its potential to make a significant impact.

“Lung Foundation Australia congratulates the Albanese Government and the Commission on the publication of the COPD Standards – we regard these as world-leading,” Brooke said. “The Standards are an opportunity to improve the lived experience of people and tackle the substantial burden of COPD on our primary and tertiary healthcare systems.”

Associate Professor Smallwood added, “The Standard also emphasises the value of providing high-quality clinical care, for all patients living with COPD, wherever they’re being treated.

“High-quality care for COPD is a partnership between primary care including GPs, and secondary care including hospitals, because it is a condition that impacts people’s lives over many years. For all patients, it is vital they receive good care in their community close to home and that they understand how to stay well. We want to prevent people from becoming so unwell that they need a hospital admission.”

A/Professor Smallwood added, “As healthcare practitioners, we need to communicate in a timely and effective way, particularly at transitions of care – whether someone is referred for specialist care or discharged from hospital and returning home after an exacerbation.”

By providing clear recommendations, the Standards aim to improve care outcomes and reduce the pressure on Australia’s healthcare system. In 2018-2019 alone, $935 million was spent on COPD, representing 21% of Australia’s respiratory disease expenditure.

The Standard addresses critical areas such as accurate COPD diagnosis, recommending Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and reducing inappropriate antibiotic use in managing COPD exacerbations. It aligns with best-practice guidelines as outlined in both the COPD-X Guidelines and the Therapeutic Guidelines: Respiratory and Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic.

“The good news is that this clinical care standard also empowers COPD patients to self-manage their condition, to take control and give them the best chance of living well.

“There are many strategies people with COPD can use to live their best life; our job is to help them achieve that,” A/Professor Smallwood said.

Each year, more than 7,600 Australians lose their lives to COPD and 53,000 people aged 45 and over are hospitalised. The nation’s hospital admissions are a staggering 1.7 times higher than the OECD average.

In reimagining healthcare across the entire patient journey, Health Industry Hub^TM is the only one-stop-hub uniting the diversity of the Pharma, MedTech, Diagnostics & Biotech sectors to inspire meaningful change.

The Health Industry Hub^TM content is copyright protected. Access is available under individual user licenses. Please click here to subscribe and visit T&Cs here.