More than 25 scientific societies and patient organizations from different countries, along with the World Health Organization (WHO), have joined forces in the European Forum for Research and Education in Allergies and Respiratory Diseases (EUFOREA) with the aim of moving towards a proactive action plan against chronic respiratory diseases.
The organizations, gathered this Friday at a summit held in London (United Kingdom), have agreed that the healthcare system maintains an "excessively reactive" approach to pathologies such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergic rhinitis, or chronic rhinosinusitis, which have become a real epidemic and already affect more than one billion people worldwide.
In this context, the WHO considers chronic respiratory diseases as one of the four main causes of mortality, along with cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes.
The meeting, promoted by EUFOREA, has focused the debate on a "unique and shared" prevention agenda, which includes short- and long-term measures to transform usual clinical practice. The emphasis has been placed on prevention, which professionals and patients see as a "great opportunity" to reduce suffering and promote more resilient and healthy economies.
The participating entities have stressed that prevention must integrate early detection and proactive management of these pathologies; the reinforcement of investment in innovative tools, such as digital health and artificial intelligence, in order to achieve remission; and the design of strategies that guarantee equitable access to high-quality care.
"A common mistake is to think that prevention only consists of preventing the disease from developing," they pointed out, emphasizing that prevention must also provide optimal individual care to patients, with the aim of slowing disease progression, something "fundamental" to "mitigate its impact."
A shared responsibility in respiratory care
"The shift from reactive to proactive care requires courage and conscious decisions from regulators, insurers, and healthcare professionals. Getting the right diagnosis and treatment at the right time should be a shared responsibility, not just that of patients and healthcare professionals. If the right decisions are made, the next decade could usher in a new era in health," highlighted EUFOREA's Head of Policy, Xander Bertels.
Patient testimonies, such as that of 34-year-old Poppy Valentine, have underscored the value of prevention, early diagnosis, and access to appropriate therapies. "I spent a decade living with uncontrolled asthma before finally knowing and having access to a treatment that changed everything for me. I got my life back, and every patient, every person, deserves that chance," she explained.
During the London summit, it was also highlighted that numerous patients wait years to obtain a diagnosis and a truly effective therapeutic plan. Retired General Practitioner Catherine Shire, who suffers from chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and severe asthma, emphasized the importance of referring patients with recurrent respiratory symptoms to a specialist, as well as the convenience of offering multidisciplinary care.
EUFOREA has announced that it will hold a second summit next year in Boston (United States) to evaluate the progress and changes introduced in clinical practice.