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NECA's COPD Patient Needs Assessment Survey Presented at American Thoracic Society
DEY, L.P.'s co-sponsorship of survey reflects commitment to patients
Napa, CA, May 25, 2004 - The results of a needs assessment survey for patients living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), conducted under the auspices of the National Emphysema/COPD Association (NECA), were presented at an educational forum at the 100th annual American Thoracic Society (ATS) meeting in Orlando, Florida, on May 23. DEY, L.P., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on prescription drug products for the treatment of selected respiratory diseases and allergies, co-sponsored the survey with the Alpha-1 Foundation and two other corporate sponsors. DEY, L.P. is the maker of DuoNeb®, a nebulized combination product. Full data from the survey are being held pending its publication at a later date.
"Despite the fact that COPD is the fourth leading cause of death among Americans, there is a terrible lack of awareness of the disease, of the needs of its patients, and of therapeutic options that can relieve the symptoms of the disease and enable patients to improve their quality of lives," said Barbara Rogers, President and CEO of NECA. "This survey, the largest needs assessment survey ever conducted for COPD patients, is a landmark achievement. Our hope is that with a deeper understanding of COPD patients' concerns, clinicians will be better able to define their patients' needs and to devise ways in which to improve patient care."
COPD's direct impact on healthcare costs is quite significant, exceeding $30 billion in 2002. Beyond direct financial costs to the healthcare system, it carries huge societal costs as well, forcing patients out of employment, progressively debilitating them until they become housebound, and requiring increasingly large investments of time and resources by those family members who care for COPD patients.
NECA's survey results were presented at the ATS forum by several leading COPD clinicians, researchers, and policymakers, including:
- Homer Boushey, Jr., MD, University of California at San Francisco and President, American Thoracic Society
- Bartolome Celli, MD, Chief, Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, St. Elizabeth's Medical Center of Boston
- James Kiley, MD, Director, NHLBI Division of Lung Diseases
- Barbara Rogers, President and CEO, NECA
- Byron Thomashow, MD, Director, Jo-Ann Le Buhn Center for Chest Disease and Respiratory Failure, Columbia University
- John Walsh, President and CEO, Alpha-1 Foundation
- Carl Wiezalis, MS, RT, Professor, Respiratory Care, SUNY Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse
Conducted by Schulman, Ronca and Bucuvalas, Inc., the survey fielded responses to questions from approximately 3,100 COPD patients and persons with emphysema, along with 523 primary care doctors, 528 pulmonologists, and 450 respiratory therapists. Survey questions probed attitudes and practices both of patients and clinicians, and aimed to identify critical differences among various subsets of respondents. Among the more critical findings was the major difference between patients who use the Internet frequently and those who do not. The Internet-using patients were more knowledgeable about their condition and possible therapeutic options; they also were more likely to be connected to patient help groups, and in general appeared to receive somewhat better care.
Raymond Joske, Senior VP for Marketing and Business Development for DEY, said, "We are proud to have helped support NECA in conducting this unique survey. At DEY, we are focused on providing patient education material and pharmaceutical products to help patients with COPD and other airway diseases. This survey is a good example of how research can uncover the critical but often unrecognized nuances of patients' lives, with the goal of empowering patients and having a positive impact on their clinical care."
About COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, refers to a number of slowly progressive but chronic lung disorders that obstruct airways. The most common forms of COPD are chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive bronchitis or emphysema, or both. In chronic bronchitis, the airways in the lungs become partially clogged with mucus. Emphysema occurs when air sacs in the lungs become enlarged and damaged, preventing full exhalation and causing the surrounding airways to collapse. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the US, with more than 12 million Americans currently diagnosed with the disease and an estimated 24 million additional persons suffering from it but undiagnosed. Although the disease has no cure, treatment plans can provide symptomatic relief and improve the quality of patients' lives.
About the National Emphysema/COPD Association (NECA)
The National Emphysema/COPD Association (NECA) is a patient-centered, member-driven, and member-governed organization. Its mission is to empower people with emphysema/COPD, families, and caregivers to improve the quality of patient care and the quality of their lives. NECA's primary objectives include:
- Providing support, advocacy, networking, and education programs in partnership with complementary organizations, and
- Promoting public awareness campaigns to increase research and improve prevention, early detection, and care.
For more information about NECA, email Barbara Rogers, visit www.necacommunity.org or send mail to:
National Emphysema/COPD Association
2425 Ridgecrest Dr. SE
Albuquerque, NM 87108-5127
About DEY, L.P.
DEY, L.P. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacturing and marketing of prescription drug products for the treatment of respiratory diseases and respiratory-related allergies. Since 1978, patients have benefited from DEY's commitment to innovative and affordable health care solutions.The Web sites for DEY include www.dey.com, www.accuneb.com, www.curosurfusa.com, www.duoneb.com and www.epipen.com. DEY is an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
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Media contacts:
DEY, L.P. Media Line 1-800-755-5560 ext. 8363
OR
Jennifer Paganelli, Feinstein Kean Healthcare, 212-880-5263
