It's Not the Disease, but Delaying Treatment That Should Be Alarming

Breathing is life’s most fundamental and effortless cycle; however, for millions of people, this cycle is becoming more difficult with each passing day. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), known in medical terms as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is a progressive respiratory disease characterized by the permanent narrowing of the airways in the lungs and a loss of their elasticity. Manifesting as a chronic cough, phlegm, and shortness of breath, COPD is often mistaken for a simple “smoker’s cough” and neglected, thereby eliminating the chance for early diagnosis.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide, following heart disease and stroke. In Turkey, it is estimated that one in every 10 to 15 adults over the age of 40 has COPD. The most striking and alarming situation in our country, however, is the low level of public awareness: approximately 90% of COPD patients in Turkey have not yet been diagnosed and are living unaware of their condition.

The Purpose and Starting Point of Our Project

This project was implemented as part of Söke Egemed Hospital’s mission to generate social benefits and its commitment to public health. Söke Egemed Hospital not only provides curative health services but also regards taking a preventive stance against regional public health issues as an institutional responsibility. In this context, raising public awareness about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—a condition that progresses insidiously and is often overlooked—forms the core objective of the project.

The primary objective of the project is directly linked to the geographical, climatic, and socioeconomic realities of the Aydın region. As emphasized in the introduction, intensive agricultural activities in the region (particularly cotton farming and agricultural dust), changes in humidity balance caused by geothermal resources, and exposure to biomass smoke in rural areas increase the local risk of COPD. This study goes beyond an academic assessment; it is a step toward social responsibility. Our goal is to direct at-risk populations in the Aydın region toward early diagnosis through a simple respiratory test and to raise awareness of respiratory health in the region.

Screening Criteria and Implementation Process

This study is a public health project conducted by Söke Egemed Hospital to raise public awareness of COPD in the Aydın region. The study’s target group consisted of individuals at the highest risk for COPD, as defined by international guidelines (GOLD).

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  Participant Criteria: Being 40 years of age or older and having a history of smoking or using tobacco products for more than 20 years. These individuals underwent free screening for early signs of respiratory disease.
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  Medical Assessment: The diagnosis of COPD was made according to the GOLD criteria. Susceptibility to COPD was assessed based on an FEV1/FVC ratio below 80% and an FEV1 value below 85%. After participants were asked questions to assess their age and smoking history, pulmonary function tests were conducted using digital devices.
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  Areas of Application: Patients and their relatives visiting Söke Egemed Hospital, healthcare workers who meet the risk factor criteria, and public spaces (such as shopping malls, etc.).
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  Ethics and Privacy: The screening process was conducted entirely on a voluntary basis, and participants provided an “Informed Consent Form.” In accordance with the Law on the Protection of Personal Data (KVKK), the data was not shared with third parties and was analyzed solely for the purpose of creating a health map of the region.

Phase 1 Results and Key Findings

In the first phase of the social responsibility project conducted by Söke Egemed Hospital, a total of 107 volunteers who met the risk criteria specified in the Methods section and had never previously been diagnosed with COPD underwent screening. The data obtained from the pulmonary function test measurements and specialist physician evaluations are as follows:

A total of 27 participants (25.2%) who were found to have abnormal lung function (those diagnosed with COPD or with borderline findings) were contacted individually by phone and informed of the results. During these calls, the 9 individuals with a confirmed diagnosis were advised on their treatment plans, while the 18 individuals with borderline findings were advised to consult a professional healthcare facility regarding protective and preventive measures to halt the progression of the disease.