Today, on World COPD Day, EUFOREA is launching a new module on its Patient Portal, offering reliable, comprehensive, and easy-to-understand information on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). EUFOREA’s Patient Education Manager, Dr Sophie Scheire, from Ghent (Belgium) is excited to introduce this latest addition to their patient education efforts.

Why did you consider it important to include information on COPD on your Patient Portal?

Chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic rhinosinusitis, asthma, and COPD are complex and often interconnected. Unfortunately, early detection is frequently delayed—especially for COPD.

Although COPD is ubiquitous, affecting more than 300 million people worldwide and ranking as the 4th leading cause of death, it remains widely underrecognized. Many people do not get diagnosed until the disease is more advanced. Symptoms often develop slowly and may be mistaken for ageing, lack of fitness, or the effects of long-term smoking. Some people hesitate to seek help (for example, out of shame of smoking), while others may be misdiagnosed at first because COPD symptoms can look like those of other conditions.

In addition, we know that access to healthcare professionals and to spirometry—the test needed to confirm COPD—is not equally available to everyone. EUFOREA, together with other organisations and healthcare providers around the world raising awareness on this World COPD Day, recognizes the importance of identifying early warning signs. Timely diagnosis allows treatment to start sooner and can help slow down further lung damage. Through the Patient Portal, EUFOREA aims to support broader awareness and understanding of this condition.

How can the EUFOREA Patient Portal contribute to expanding the knowledge of people affected by COPD?

EUFOREA has developed a clear and consistent structure for every topic on the Patient Portal, covering all key aspects of each condition. This same approach has been applied to our newest addition: the COPD module. This includes the basics of the disease, its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options, as well as lifestyle and prevention measures. We have also created unique downloadable tools to help patients prepare for their doctors appointments.

To support patients throughout their treatment journey, we provide lay-language summaries of recommendations from major clinical guidelines. In addition, the portal includes an overview of patient initiatives, answers to frequently asked questions, and a glossary explaining medical terms in simple language. Throughout the portal, we also highlight the links between different respiratory conditions. Many patients in our patient advisory board told us that fragmented information is a major frustration; therefore, we designed this multi-disease platform to offer a more integrated and patient-friendly experience.

All content is reviewed by world-renowned COPD experts, and we’ve had the privilege of incorporating feedback from COPD patients to ensure the portal truly resonates with their needs. In addition to expert videos on diagnostic procedures, the portal also offers valuable insights into pulmonary rehabilitation and the importance of nutrition, explained directly by a physiotherapist and dietitian involved in COPD patient care.

What are the future ambitions of EUFOREA in terms of this patient education initiative? 

Following the launch of this COPD module, we’re already looking ahead to early next year, when we will introduce another new module—this one dedicated entirely to respiratory allergies. We also hope to make the portal available in multiple languages in the near future.

Enjoy the ride on the EUFOREA Patient Portal and stay tuned!

www.euforea.org/patient-portal/

Visit further resources from EUFOREA here.