Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) are common, often preventable and treatable diseases, characterised by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation.
Significant comorbidities may have an impact on morbidity and mortality. In the European Union alone, the direct cost of COPD amounts to 6 percent of the total annual healthcare budget in 2011 (380 billion Euros) and accounts for 42 percent of the total direct cost of treating respiratory diseases.
Respiratory physiotherapy interventions focusing on exercise training in combination with enhancing physical activity levels are likely to be cost-effective in terms of costs per unit gain in health-related quality of life and in quality-adjusted life years.
> From: Leemans, J Physiother 67 (2021) 271-283 . All rights reserved to Australian Physiotherapy Association. Click here for the online summary.
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