Health, Rossi (Simg): "Bpco growing challenge in general medicine for early diagnosis"

On Note 99: "At least overcome the obligation of a therapeutic plan for the prescription of triple therapy"

COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, "represents a growing challenge for general medicine, in relation to the aging of the population", therefore "of chronic respiratory diseases and COPD in particular. The reasons for access and contacts with general medicine, for the most part, are represented by symptoms or problems attributable to chronic respiratory diseases". It is "a challenge that is certainly growing for general medicine". This is how Alessandro Rossi, president of Simg, the Italian Society of General Medicine, comments on the topic of taking charge of patients with COPD, in light of scientific evidence and organizational changes underway, such as Note 99 for the prescription of inhaled drugs indicated in the maintenance therapy of patients with COPD, to Adnkronos Salute.

With regard to this clinical condition, "the important thing - observes Rossi - is an approach that is as proactive as possible and that is, that tends to diagnose it in the early stages and not, as often happens, in the late stages". It is therefore a question of "making an early diagnosis of an appropriate classification of the staging", that is, the state of advancement of the disease. In this context "Note 99 - he clarifies - represents a regulatory note from AIFA", the Italian Medicines Agency, which "in our opinion could be overcome at least as regards the obligation of the therapeutic plan for triple inhalation therapy which we believe should be liberalized in such a way as to provide freer prescriptions for general medicine, increase patient compliance and reduce the congestion of specialist services". It therefore becomes "essential - underlines the Simg resident - the" integrated "management between first level medicine, i.e. general medicine, and specialist medicine with the most innovative tools regarding digitalization, sending telematic reports, communication between information systems of different levels and also the use of artificial intelligence. This can strengthen and qualify the collaboration network, especially for the benefit of these patients".

In this context, Rossi continues, "the Aster study fits in, which represented the first extensive screening study of the population with chronic respiratory diseases carried out in the setting of general medicine. This already gives this study great value - he remarks - The results" highlight that "many of the patients enrolled in the study were at their first diagnosis and were not classified, preventively, as having chronic respiratory diseases. This demonstrates the need for an earlier diagnosis, with the typical tools of general medicine, with a classification of these patients for a start towards a correct lifestyle, abstention from smoking and, naturally", access "to the most appropriate therapies that improve the outcomes of the disease".