Lung Health Program

Challenge

Chronic respiratory disease (CRD) is a major cause of death worldwide¹. In Pakistan, mortality rates from CRD of 138.2 and 41.3 per 100,000² in males and females respectively are grossly underestimated.

Non-TB associated respiratory disease has low priority with inadequate resources for diagnostics and management³. Access to interventions affecting disease progression, from essential medicines to pulmonary rehabilitation are generally not available or affordable^{4, 5} . Meanwhile, the prevalence of tuberculosis is high. Whilst screening and treatment programs are in place to address this, lung health following tuberculosis is poorly characterized and managed. There may be long term lung effects of TB even once treated which impact quality of life⁶. The role for a comprehensive lung health evaluation and treatment service is therefore emerging.

Our Approach

IRD Pakistan is collaborating with The Indus Network and McGill University to develop a systematic program to reduce the burden of lung ill-health. We aim to (a) develop the infrastructure for a comprehensive access to specialist clinical services and (b) offer a multidisciplinary, patient-centred approach to management.

Care will include community based intervention programmes to reduce hospital admissions and promote a sense of patient self-management and disease ownership. This includes individualised nursing support and pulmonary rehabilitation to improve patient education and quality of life. Primary prevention includes a smoking cessation program to screen, counsel and treat both cigarette smokers and those who consume smokeless tobacco. To characterise post-TB lung disease various studies will be conducted to assess respiratory symptoms and lung function in patients completing TB treatment. These studies will identify the burden of disease and identify possible points of intervention to prevent long term respiratory problems.

PROGRESS

The program has already established 4 weekly clinics for patients with respiratory symptoms to be referred for assessment.

The clinics are designed as a ‘one-stop shop’ so that spirometry (routine respiratory investigations), physiotherapy and nursing support for diagnostics, treatment and patient education can be offered in the same visit. Following assessment for tuberculosis, the need for specialist respiratory review is also catered for. As this infrastructure develops, studies into post-TB lung health are planned so that patients will be prospectively recruited on completion of treatment and have a follow-up clinical evaluation and treatment for any ongoing respiratory symptoms.