"Happy Breath" Brings Standardized COPD Diagnosis and Treatment to Grassroots Communities

Beijing, April 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 25, the first-phase summary meeting of the "Happy Breathing" China COPD Tiered Diagnosis and Treatment Promotion Project (hereinafter referred to as the "Happy Breathing" Project) was successfully held in Kunming. The project was guided by the Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control, the Bureau of Medical Administration and Hospital Management, and the Department of Primary Healthcare of the National Health Commission; hosted by the Chinese Health Promotion and Education Association and the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases–China-Japan Friendship Hospital Respiratory Specialist Medical Consortium; co-organized by the Respiratory Physicians Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association; and supported in collaboration by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). The conference summarized the significant achievements made over the past three years by the "Happy Breathing" Project in promoting the implementation of national policies on tiered diagnosis and treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), establishing specialist medical consortia and telemedicine services, enhancing grassroots capacity for COPD diagnosis and treatment, and improving the diagnostic and therapeutic proficiency of primary care physicians in managing COPD.

“Happy Breathing” Project Summary Meeting

The “Happy Breathing” project was officially launched in November 2017. The first phase lasted three years (2017–2020), aiming to advance the construction and development of specialized respiratory medical consortia and promote comprehensive coverage of tiered diagnosis and treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) across healthcare institutions at all levels in pilot areas. With support from GSK, the project covered 29 pilot cities for tiered COPD diagnosis and treatment across 24 provinces in China. It helped over 1.35 million primary care residents complete COPD screening questionnaires, provided lung function tests for more than 290,000 individuals at high risk for COPD, and implemented standardized management for over 30,000 COPD patients through a tiered diagnosis and treatment data management system. The project conducted nearly 600 online physician education sessions and case discussions, attracting more than 600,000 healthcare professionals to participate in online training on standardized COPD diagnosis and treatment.

Latest data show that nearly 100 million people in China are affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with a significant increase in COPD prevalence in recent years.^[1,2], has become the third leading cause of death among residents in China^[3]. However, over 80% of patients do not receive standardized diagnosis and treatment, and the awareness rate of their condition among COPD patients diagnosed via pulmonary function testing is less than 3%.^[2], this situation is more severe at the primary care level; therefore, it is of great significance to enhance the awareness, diagnosis, and treatment capabilities for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the primary care level.

Academician Wang Chen, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, delivered remarks on-site.

Academician Wang Chen, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, pointed out: “The prevention and control of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should focus on primary care. The ‘Happy Breathing’ project has pioneered grassroots COPD prevention and control, achieving positive and visible results in exploring implementation pathways for tiered diagnosis and treatment of COPD, improving standardized diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of COPD at health institutions of all levels, and popularizing disease-related knowledge. By addressing the needs of primary care in the most direct way, the project ensures that everyone can enjoy the happiness of free breathing, thereby contributing to the ‘Healthy China 2030’ initiative.”

Huang Zemin, Executive Vice President and Secretary-General of the Chinese Health Promotion and Education Association, Delivered a Speech On-Site

At the summary meeting of the “Happy Breathing” project, Huang Zemin, Executive Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Health Promotion and Education Association, pointed out: “Over the past three years, millions of people in primary care communities have undergone COPD screening, and over a million high-risk individuals have received pulmonary function testing. Numerous hospitals across multiple provinces have actively participated in the ‘Happy Breathing’ project, jointly promoting the standardized diagnosis and treatment of COPD in China. Through online training on standardized COPD diagnosis and treatment, respiratory specialists and general practitioners at the primary care level have received professional training. In 29 key demonstration regions nationwide, medical institutions at all levels have carried out pulmonary function screening and hands-on training for standardized testing, significantly improving the diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities of primary healthcare personnel in these 29 cities with respect to COPD. The implementation of the ‘Happy Breathing’ tiered diagnosis and treatment disease management system for COPD has advanced the comprehensive and systematic application of tiered diagnosis and treatment across medical institutions at all levels in China, laying a solid technical foundation for this approach. Furthermore, ‘Happy Breathing’ has actively promoted the availability of routine COPD medications in primary healthcare institutions, facilitated two-way referrals for difficult, critical, and severe COPD cases, and conducted remote consultations and case discussions. Meanwhile, public education campaigns have significantly enhanced patients’ awareness and understanding of COPD. Extensive media publicity in the project areas has expanded the project’s external influence and fostered public awareness regarding the importance of early prevention, early treatment, and standardized management of this disease.”

Dr. Pauline Ng, Vice President of GSK and Medical Director for China Prescription Drugs, delivered an on-site address

Dr. Pauline Ng, Vice President and Medical Director of Prescription Medicines at GSK China, stated, “As a pioneer and leader in the field of respiratory diseases, GSK is proud of the achievements made by the ‘Happy Breathing’ collaborative project over the past three years. Moving forward, GSK remains committed to working closely with all partners to further improve the overall management of COPD diagnosis and treatment. Our goal is to benefit more patients in China through collaboration, helping them do more, feel better, and live longer.”

GSKCommitment to Respiratory Health

For 50 years, GSK has been a global leader in the development of medications for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Since launching the world’s first selective short-acting beta-agonist in 1969, GSK has created today’s industry-leading respiratory portfolio.GSKContinuously innovate, respond urgently to patients' needs, and provide them with effective treatment plans.GSKCollaborating with all sectors of the healthcare community, we leverage world-class technology and innovative power to identify and conduct in-depth research on effective molecules that may become future medicines. Innovation never stops—until everyone can breathe easily.GSKWill also keep moving forward.

References:

^[1]. Zhong N et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007;176(8):753-760.

^[2]. Wang C. et al. The Lancet 2018; 391 (10131).

^[3]. Zhou M, et al. Lancet. 2019 Jun 24. pii S0140-6736(19)30427-1.