Belgium COPD Index
Rank
(out of 24 countries)
31
Index Score
(out of 100)
55.89
Deaths
(as a % of overall deaths)
5.31%
Smoking Rate
23.4%
Societal Costs
(cost per person)
$1044
Above average performance
Average performance
Below average performance
Belgium’s has highly accessible universal health care coverage, treatment and drug access, however it has several gaps in care referral pathways and conditions for COPD diagnosis
Belgium’s score in the Access and Care Coverage category is among the lowest, with gaps in care referral pathways and conditions for COPD diagnosis, but highly accessible universal health care coverage, treatment, and drug access. Belgium’s score in the Disease Burden category is below the average, with relatively high COPD death and prevalence rates and a marginally below-average rate of tobacco use. Belgium scores relatively low in the Policy Context category, due to a lack of COPD guidelines and national strategy for COPD. Belgium presents an above-average score in the Health System Characteristics category, with good quality health care data and reporting, and average number of respiratory specialists. Belgium also scores above average in the Environmental Factors category, with relatively low particulate matter levels.
COPD Index Key Takeaways
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following takeaways regarding COPD care in Belgium.
Despite highly accessible universal health care, there are high unmet needs for COPD diagnosis and care
Lack of policy and guidelines despite a relatively high burden of COPD
Above-average performance in the Health System Characteristics category
COPD Index Best Practices
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following best practices regarding COPD care in Belgium.
Easily available and accessible smoking cessation counsellors
Reimbursement of pulmonary rehabilitation in primary care for severe patients
Good availability of pharmaceuticals and tertiary care treatments
Challenges for COPD Care
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following challenges regarding COPD care in Belgium.
Delayed diagnosis, especially due to lack of spirometry in primary care
General lack of awareness of COPD
Inadequate epidemiological data to support the management of COPD
Opportunities for COPD Care
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following opportunities regarding COPD care in Belgium.
Increase early detection through more integrated care and screening
Improve focus on patient empowerment in nurse-led COPD clinics
Priorities for COPD Care
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following priorities regarding COPD care in Belgium.
Increase access to spirometry
Focus on strategies to improve adherence to guidelines and patient adherence to treatment
Development of more integrated care
Compare Belgium to other countries
Select different countries to see how they scored across each of the 5 categories and overall
Key contributor insights
“Late diagnosis of COPD [is a challenge]. This is related to the fact that spirometry is still not utilised enough by GPs, even if patients present with chronic respiratory symptoms or recurrent infections, and the awareness of COPD is still too low in general population.”
“[There are] problems related to inhaled medications: Compliance of use of inhaler medications from pharmacies is not visible for physicians and inhaler technique is not reimbursed for hospitals and hence often not checked. No COPD nurses are available as financial system does not encourage this, hence not enough focus on patient education.”
“There is no nationwide epidemiological data on COPD prevalence and management available.”
Sources
You can view the data sources for this country HERE