Skip Navigation
RSS

News

Belfast Research Tackles Worldwide Killer

Tuesday 15 November 2005

Research based in Belfast could produce the first effective treatment for a chest illness that claims three million lives around the world each year.

Research based in Belfast could produce the first effective treatment for a chest illness that claims three million lives around the world each year.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, attacks the lining of the airways in the lungs. It has no cure, and treatment is limited to relieving its symptoms. Those most at risk are people who smoke, although non-smokers can also be affected. It is the sixth biggest killer illness and is set to become the third biggest by 2015.

Now, the Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke Association is funding research by doctors at the Mater and Royal Victoria hospitals to find out if commonly available anti-viral treatment could halt lung damage in some patients with the disease.

The study is being conducted by Dr Joe Kidney at the Mater and Dr Peter Coyle at the Royal. It is being funded to the tune of £45,000 by the NICHSA and will run until August 2006.

The researchers have studied people with severe disease and found that some harboured viruses which accelerated the damage to the airways. Now they plan to study younger patients with milder disease and who have not been treated with anti-inflammatory drugs to see if they, too, have the viruses. If it turns out that they have, the progression of the disease in these patients could be halted or slowed with the use of anti-viral treatments.

The Chief Executive of the NI Chest, Heart and Stroke Association, Andrew Dougal, said: “COPD is one of the commonest reasons for hospital admission, and contributes greatly to the winter pressures on the NHS and resulting trolley waits. If we can find a treatment – even for some patients – we could relieve a great deal of suffering and help the Health Service at the same time. Many COPD sufferers live very difficult lives, restricted by their illness when doing even the simplest things, such as having a bath or going out in winter. Often, people have to take an oxygen supply with them everywhere they go.”

The charity announced the research on World COPD Day, November 16.

It also launched a new support group for COPD sufferers in Antrim, and will launch another in Lisburn on November 24. In addition, it has started a new initiative in partnership with the Local Health and Social Care Group in Londonderry to provide a support network for sufferers there.


Ends

Notes to Editors:
<ol>
<li>COPD was (and still is) better known to the public as chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema
<li>80,000 people suffer from COPD in Northern Ireland
<li>In Northern Ireland 28,000 hospital admissions occur each year of COPD patients, costing approximately £47m.
<li>Each admission to hospital of a COPD patient costs the Health Service approximately £3k.
</ol>

[BACK TO TOP]