Technology
Advancing COPD care through digital technology
With respiratory diseases – most notably COPD – a growing issue for ageing populations, Bipin Patel looks at how technology can be used to improve diagnosis and monitoring of these conditions, while also easing the burden on strained health providers.
Respiratory diseases, a common example of which is chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), remain significant causes of healthcare utilisation and mortality across the world. Current estimates suggest approximately 1.4 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with COPD and a further 70% may currently be undiagnosed.1,2
The term COPD is used to
describe a group of progressive lung conditions characterised by airflow limitation and the destruction of lung tissue. Common symptoms include breathlessness on exertion, a persistent cough with mucus, wheezing and fatigue. COPD exacerbations or acute periods of worsening respiratory symptoms can be highly disabling and may require hospitalisation when severe. The care of respiratory conditions, like COPD, places enormous pressure on healthcare services, including the NHS. Those challenges that are impacting the NHS’ ability to provide effective care for COPD include delays in diagnosis, poor patient adherence to prescribed
treatments and inadequate monitoring of respiratory exacerbations. There are more than four million GP consultations, 130,000 hospital admissions and 30,000 deaths in the UK due to COPD each year.3,4
the NHS in England was recently carried out by Lord Darzi in order to assess patient access, quality of care and the overall performance of the healthcare system.7
The resulting costs to the NHS
have been estimated at £1.9 billion per year and are expected to rise to more than £2.5 billion by 2030.5,6
Without doubt, improvements in COPD diagnosis and monitoring are needed to optimise patient outcomes and help relieve the pressure on clinicians and overburdened healthcare systems. Digital technology has the power to address these challenges and while several are currently in use or development for COPD, there are barriers hindering their development and implementation in the NHS and impacting the care of COPD patients.
Challenges facing the NHS To understand those challenges facing the NHS, an independent investigation into the state of
This investigation found
that the NHS is currently in serious trouble, with growing waiting lists and the deteriorating health of the nation.7
Some key factors identified
in the report include spending cuts and funding constraints, the COVID-19 pandemic, a lack of patient voice and staff engagement, as well as management structures and systems.7 These growing waiting lists included long
waits for GP appointments as a result of the increased demand for healthcare services and decreases in the number of fully qualified GPs relative to the population.7
GPs play an
important role in COPD patient care from initial assessment (eg physical examination, spirometry) and referral to more specialist diagnostic services (eg CT scans, X-rays) to continual post-exacerbation care. Notably, one survey found that around a quarter of COPD sufferers reported having problems accessing GP appointments.1
These delays can
hinder diagnosis and the initiation of treatment as well as prevent more prompt treatment adjustments, which can adversely affect patient outcomes. Other areas of the NHS, such as A&E departments, are also under unprecedented pressure with patients experiencing growing waiting times. Around 97% of those attending A&E in 2011 were seen within four hours; however, by 2024 this had dropped to 74%.7
A&E
wait times were also found to increase for older individuals, doubling in those over 65 from three to almost seven hours.7
COPD exacerbations
are a common cause of A&E admissions in the UK, accounting for one in eight of all hospital admissions.6
These long A&E wait times may
Improvements in COPD diagnosis and monitoring are needed to optimise patient outcomes and help relieve pressure on the NHS and other healthcare systems.
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www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I September 2025
deter COPD patients from attending A&E and may contribute to delays in treatment. One study found that more than 70% of patients presenting to A&E with a COPD exacerbation waited more than 24 hours before seeking care.8 The delayed treatment of COPD exacerbations
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