The Institute for Clinical and Healthcare Effectiveness (IECS) will co-lead an international program to improve care for patients with COPD in South America.
Research groups from Argentina, Peru, Brazil and the United Kingdom have joined forces to develop a pioneering project that seeks to improve care for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in South America. The program Breathe Well South America (Breathe Well South America), is funded by the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and is part of the Global Health Research Group on COPD in Primary Care (Global Health Research Group on Global COPD in Primary Care).
This initiative, which will be developed over four years, seeks to address a highly relevant health problem: access to quality primary care for people with COPD, a condition that constitutes the 4ta cause of death on our continent. COPD disproportionately affects low-income people and it is worth noting that at least 75% of cases are not diagnosed and therefore do not receive any treatment.[I],[ii],[iii]
El Institute of Clinical and Health Effectiveness (IECS) In Argentina, it will work jointly with prestigious institutions worldwide: Universidad Científica del Sur (UCSUR) in Peru, University of Sao Paulo (USP)) in Brazil, University of Birmingham y University College London (UCL) in the UK, and the International Group on Primary Respiratory Care (International Primary Care Respiratory Group, IPCRG).
Starting in July 2024, the program will assess the current quality of primary care for COPD in Argentina, Brazil, and Peru. The international research team will analyze the public policy and governance context, organization, processes, quality and inequalities in care, as well as the quality of medical records in our region. The research team will then develop a set of COPD quality indicators and an identification and treatment pathway for COPD patients in primary care. They will test the feasibility of these tools in different settings and model cost-effectiveness as well as potential impact on health inequalities.
The three participating institutions from South America will work together and develop training activities aimed at colleagues from local institutions. These local institutions will be located in contrasting geographic and economic areas and will include some of the most underserved populations.
As a leading health research institution in Argentina, IECS will contribute its experience in carrying out a comprehensive analysis of the situation, considering the socio-political context in which care is provided to people with COPD, assessing the quality, implementation and integration of computerized clinical records at the first level of care, identifying potential barriers and facilitators.
Through capacity building, the programme aims to develop a sustainable research infrastructure and research leaders to foster high-quality COPD research in the future. This will include training individuals in a range of clinical and research skills and abilities.
The research teams will develop a sustainable engagement with community representatives, clinical experts and public officials to ensure that the study is rooted in local, national and regional needs, with the aim of generating a positive impact on the health of our population. Likewise, the link with the different actors at all levels will seek to ensure that the results of the research are acted upon, in addition to exploring opportunities for future research.
La Dr. Vilma Irazola, director of the Department of Chronic Disease Research at IECS, stated: “This project represents a fundamental step towards more equitable and effective care for people with COPD in Latin America. By contributing to the strengthening of health systems and providing practical tools to health teams, we could significantly improve the quality of life of millions of people.”
Formed in June 2017, the Group Breathe Well has already established partnerships with teams in Brazil, China, Georgia and the Republic of North Macedonia, together with the International Primary Respiratory Care Group (IPCRG). For more information on the first programme Breathe Well, visit the following link: Breathe Well.
Note to the Editor
The mission of National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. We do this by:
- Funding timely, high-quality research that benefits the National Health System, public health and social assistance;
- Invest in world-class expertise, facilities and a skilled workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services;
- Partnering with patients, healthcare users, caregivers and communities to increase the relevance, quality and impact of our research;
- Attract, train and support the best researchers to tackle complex health and social care challenges;
- Collaborate with other public funders, charities and industry to help shape a cohesive and globally competitive research system;
- Funding research and training in applied global health to meet the needs of the poorest people in low- and middle-income countries.
NIHR is funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care. Its work in low- and middle-income countries is funded primarily through UK Government International Development Funding.
[I] de Queiroz et al. Underdiagnosis of COPD at primary health care clinics in the city of Aparecida de Goiânia, Brazil. J Bras Pneumol. 2012;38(6):692-699
[ii] Echazarreta A. Prevalence of COPD in 6 Urban Clusters in Argentina: The EPOC.AR Study. Bronconeumology Archives 2018; 54(5):260-269
[iii] Siddharthan T et al; GECo Study Investigators. Discriminative Accuracy of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Screening Instruments in 3 Low- and Middle-Income Country Settings. JAMA. 2022 Jan 11;327(2):151-160