American Lung Association of Colorado

Colorado First to Release Plan to Combat Fourth Leading Cause of Death

DENVER, CO—Today more than 10 organizations including the ALA of Colorado, National Jewish Medical and Research Center and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center joined the Colorado COPD Coalition to introduce the first implemented statewide action plan in the U.S. designed to address the growing public health epidemic of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), a serious lung disease and the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.

While most states have formal plans for dealing with asthma, diabetes and other major diseases, there have been no such plans implemented to target the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. until now. The document, “A Strategic Plan to Address COPD in Colorado,” sets the goals, objectives, and strategies to reduce COPD mortality by 10 percent over the next three years.

“This plan represents a call to action for the entire state,” said Keith Breese, Colorado COPD Coalition Manager. “And we hope to be a model for other states as they begin addressing this debilitating disease.” The plan outlines four major areas for improvement: public awareness, data collection, diagnosis and treatment, and advocacy efforts.

Clearly there is a lot of work to be done. Based on new Colorado estimates released as part of today’s announcement, 450,000 Coloradoans are believed to have COPD, and up to 70 percent of them don’t even know they have the disease, sometimes referred to as emphysema or chronic bronchitis.

The Colorado COPD Coalition is working in partnership with National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health. The Coalition will use NHLBI fact sheets for at-risk and diagnosed patients, as well as print and radio public service announcements, and an educational video designed to be used in community health centers and physicians offices throughout Colorado.

"We are pleased to partner with the Colorado COPD Coalition and share our Learn More Breathe Better educational materials with them as they cross the state seeking to better educate health care providers and the general public about the signs and symptoms of COPD, and the importance of lung function testing for those at risk," said James P. Kiley, Ph.D., Director of the Division of Lung Diseases at NHLBI.

COPD is often characterized by shortness of breath. Other symptoms include constant coughing, sometimes called “smoker’s cough,” excess sputum production and wheezing. COPD develops slowly and can worsen over time. Unfortunately, many people dismiss their symptoms as “ordinary” shortness of breath due to smoking. But with more recently developed treatment options that can improve patients’ quality of life it’s even more important now than ever that we diagnose and treat people with COPD.

Edna Fiore, a COPD patient and advocate, says that despite the chronic nature of the disease COPD is not a "death sentence, it is a challenge to learn how to live life to the fullest.”

The campaign will roll out throughout 2007 beginning with targeted radio spots and educational brochures distributed state-wide. In addition, the Coalition announced today that the first public lung function screenings associated with the campaign will be held at the following locations:

Tuesday, June 19th, 2007:
• AF Williams Clinic, University of Colorado Hospital and Clinics – Quebec and Martin Luther King, 3055 Roslyn St., 8:30am -4:30pm ph: 303-372-8378 for scheduled appointment or directions.
• COPD eHealth Program, University Hospital Administrative Office Building - 4210 E. 11th Ave.- Room 105, 1:00pm – 4:30pm ph: 303-372-8378 for scheduled appointment or directions.
• Anshutz Outpatient Pavilion, University Hospital Fitzsimmons campus – COPD Center 7th floor, 12605 E. 16th Ave., Aurora, 1:00pm – 4:30pm ph: 303-372-8378 for scheduled appointment or directions.
• Memorial Health System, Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Printers Park Medical Plaza, 175 South Union Blvd., Suite 245, Colorado Springs, 12pm – 2pm.
• Memorial Hospital North Campus, Respiratory Therapy Department, 4050 Briargate Parkway, Colorado Springs, 12pm – 2pm.

Wednesday, June 20th, 2007
• National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Molly Blank building, Room J105, 1400 Jackson St., Denver, 1pm-3pm.
• AF Williams Clinic, University of Colorado Hospital and Clinics – Quebec and Martin Luther King, 3055 Roslyn St., 8:30am -4:30pm ph: 303-372-8378 for scheduled appointment or directions
• Memorial Health System, Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Printers Park Medical Plaza, 175 South Union Blvd., Suite 245, Colorado Springs, 10am – 12pm.

We encourage anyone over the age of 45 who experiences shortness of breath, especially if they have a history of smoking, to come and be tested.

About the Colorado COPD Coalition: The coalition was formed in 2006 by the American Lung Association of Colorado with a grant from the Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease and Pulmonary Disease (CCPD) Competitive Grants Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

For more information about the Colorado COPD Coalition, or for a copy of the executive summary from the state COPPD plan released today visit www.coloradocopdcoalition.org.

About the American Lung Association of Colorado

For nearly 100 years, the American Lung Association of Colorado has been the lead organization working to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Lung disease death rates continue to increase while other leading causes of death have declined. The American Lung Association of Colorado funds vital research on the causes of and treatments for lung disease. With the generous support of the public, the American Lung Association of Colorado is “Improving life, one breath at a time.” For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or log on to www.lungcolorado.org.