It is estimated that more than 300,000 Danes suffer from COPD today. This figure is much higher than previously anticipated. Many people have the disease without knowing it, and many could have a better life as COPD patients, if the disease was diagnosed earlier.
The Danish National Board of Health appointed a task force consisting of a broad range of representatives from a large number of bodies working with COPD in 2004 for the purpose of making recommendations which will contribute to:
- General practitioners systematically ensuring the early detection of COPD in persons at risk and monitoring these patients
- Systematic COPD rehabilitation being permanently included in the range of treatments offered to COPD patients in Denmark
- Systematic preventive efforts and treatments being offered to COPD patients throughout the treatment programme
Based on the available evidence, the task force has then drawn up a number of professional and organisational recommendations concerning early detection, follow-up, treatment and rehabilitation of COPD patients which have subsequently been published (2006).