Chronic Disease Management: Innovative Programs to Reduce Social Isolation in COPD

The 2011 Illinois Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) indicated that nearly 600,000 people in Illinois have been diagnosed with COPD.  Given CDC estimates that half of the people living with COPD are undiagnosed, as many as 1.2 million Illinoisans are likely to have the disease. Respiratory Health Association’s local programs designed to reduce social isolation for people living with COPD have been well received, helped to increase disease awareness, and may help improve quality of life and chronic disease management.

Respiratory Health Association has been a public health leader in metropolitan Chicago since 1906. Today, the Association addresses asthma, COPD, lung cancer, tobacco control and air quality with a comprehensive approach involving research, education and advocacy activities. In 2004, local patients living with COPD identified a need for programming specifically targeting improved socialization. Limited research supports the importance of reducing social isolation to patients living with COPD, but a local program model did not exist. To fill this gap in programming, Respiratory Health Association worked with local stakeholders to develop our COPD Initiative.

Our COPD Initiative aims to promote well-being through education; support social engagement by addressing potential limitations and barriers; increase participation in advocacy activities to improve disease awareness and treatment; and to create a shared community. Since 2004, more than 6,500 people living with COPD and their caregivers have participated in our Living Better Together COPD Conference and Cruising with COPD programs. We have distributed more than 130,000 issues of Inspiration, an educational newsletter featuring tips on living better with COPD. Additionally, our COPD program participants have written more than 1,800 advocacy letters urging policy makers and other stakeholders to support lung health and clean air policies, increase disease awareness and improve COPD care and management.