This COPD Awareness Month and World Antimicrobial Resistance Week, discover how researchers at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences are working to improve care and outcomes for people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
COPD is a group of lung conditions which make it difficult to breathe as airways narrow and it becomes harder to empty air from the lungs. The two most common forms are bronchitis and emphysema. People with COPD typically experience breathlessness, a persistent chesty cough, and frequent chest infections
Approximately 1.2 million people are diagnosed with COPD in the UK, with estimates suggesting that an additional 1.8 million individuals may be living with the condition undiagnosed. As the third leading cause of death in the UK, COPD has a profound impact on people’s quality of life and the health and care system.
This year, the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) campaign highlights the importance of lung function testing to detect issues before symptoms appear as early detection can be life-changing, helping individuals take steps to protect their lung health.
Leading the search for effective and safe treatments for COPD: A selection of COPD related research in our department
Reducing unnecessary antibiotic use and preventing antibiotic resistance
When COPD symptoms suddenly get worse (known as an exacerbation or 'flare-up'), doctors often prescribe antibiotics. While these flare-ups can be frightening for patients and sometimes dangerous, not all of them are caused by bacterial infections that require antibiotics. Currently, over 70% of COPD flare-ups are treated with antibiotics, even though many may not benefit from this treatment.
Unnecessary antibiotic use is driving one of today's biggest health challenges: antibiotic resistance. This happens when bacteria evolve to survive antibiotic treatments, making infections harder – or sometimes impossible – to treat. By ensuring antibiotics are only used when truly needed, we can help preserve their effectiveness for future generations.
For example, the PACE study has shown that using a simple finger-prick blood test can help doctors reduce antibiotic prescribing for COPD flare-ups by 20% without compromising patient safety.
Learn more about the PACE study
The PACE study also won the prestigious Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) research paper of the year in 2020.
Smarter solutions for better care – The DECIDE programme
With COPD being the second largest cause of emergency hospital admissions in the UK, finding better ways to monitor and support patients at home is crucial. The DECIDE programme, a partnership between our department and RAND Europe, is evaluating how technologies like smart inhalers, virtual rehabilitation apps, and remote monitoring hubs might help people living with COPD to be cared for at home.
This research isn’t just about the technology, it’s investigating what kinds of remote monitoring are already being used in the NHS, what works and for whom, and how these digital solutions might help reduce healthcare inequalities. By studying real-world applications in four sites around England, this work is also feeding into development of practical resources to help the NHS integrate these technologies into COPD care pathways.
This project is nearing completion with resources expected to be made public soon.
Understanding COPD in Complex Health Conditions - The CoMPuTE Project
Many people with COPD also live with other long-term health conditions, creating additional challenges for both patients and healthcare providers. The CoMPuTE project is using artificial intelligence to analyse anonymised health records to better understand how multiple conditions, including COPD, develop and interact over time.
What makes this project unique is its strong public involvement – one-third is entirely public-led, ensuring our research addresses real-world needs and healthcare inequalities.
The aim is to develop better ways to predict and prevent multiple conditions, ultimately improving care for people living with COPD alongside other health challenges.