New treatment in UAE for COPD lung ailment offers hope
Dubai: The first biological treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), now available in the UAE, offers new hope for patients suffering from this life-threatening condition.
According to the World Health Organisation, COPD – a common lung disease – is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, causing 3.5 million deaths in 2021, around five per cent of all global deaths.
The innovative new therapy targets the disease’s underlying causes and significantly improves patients’ quality of life, doctors said during a media roundtable in Dubai.
Prof Bassam Mahboub
“COPD is characterised by airway obstruction, typically affecting smokers or those exposed to environmental pollution. It poses a significant threat to life, as it gradually deteriorates the quality of life, impacting a patient’s ability to perform even simple daily activities,” Prof Bassam Mahboub, head of the respiratory department at Rashid Hospital, said.
Main symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, persistent cough, increased mucus production, and fatigue. Without adequate treatment, these symptoms can worsen, severely impacting the patient’s quality of life. COPD management focuses on symptom reduction and improved breathing, often through bronchodilators, steroids, and, in some cases, oxygen therapy or pulmonary rehabilitation.
How the treatment works
“The new biological treatment is administered as an injection every two weeks, approved by the US FDA [Food and Drug Administration], and is now available in the UAE, one of the first countries to offer this treatment. It offers great hope for patients who have long suffered from the effects of the disease, helping reduce symptoms and significantly improving quality of life,” said Prof Bassam.
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