Argentina has over 2.3 million people suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), yet 77% of cases remain undiagnosed, turning COPD into a 'silent' public health crisis. This is highlighted in a new report by the Respiratory Health Initiative. The report notes that despite a solid epidemiological base and updated clinical guidelines, the country faces serious challenges in the systematic implementation of policies, equitable access, and the integration of different health system subsystems. Specialists emphasize that access to quality care is concentrated in major cities, and diagnosis is often delayed as patients seek help at advanced stages of the disease. The report also states that spirometry—a key test for early detection of COPD—is not systematically available at the primary care level. This hinders early detection and contributes to six out of ten diagnoses being incorrect, as seen in the EPOC.ar1 study. The fragmentation of the health system between public, private, and social security sectors exacerbates deep inequalities. While reference hospitals concentrate specialized care, vast rural areas of the country lack basic diagnostic and rehabilitation services. The report also notes that 35% of Argentina's population continues to smoke, and another 35% are former smokers, maintaining a high level of exposure to the main risk factor. Adherence to treatment is fundamental, but only a third of patients comply adequately. The report calls for the creation of a National COPD Program, the implementation of systematic spirometry screening, the establishment of a national COPD registry, ensuring equitable access to treatments, and the decentralization of pulmonary rehabilitation.
"All the measures we can take to improve access to the diagnosis and treatment of COPD are important because people with respiratory symptoms who start receiving appropriate treatment for the severity of their condition could live significantly better and prevent this disease from impacting their work, their nocturnal rest, their social life, or their ability to walk three blocks or climb a few stairs, among other common situations," the specialists pointed out.
