Canada COPD Index
Rank
(out of 24 countries)
11
Index Score
(out of 100)
65.67
Deaths
(as a % of overall deaths)
4.87%
Smoking Rate
13%
Societal Costs
(cost per person)
$848
Above average performance
Average performance
Below average performance
Canada scores significantly above average in the Policy Context category, with strong tobacco control policies and relatively strong COPD care guidelines and practices.
Canada scores significantly above average in the Policy Context category, with strong tobacco control policies and relatively strong COPD care guidelines and practices. Canada’s performance in the Environmental Factors category is also above average, with good outdoor air quality, but some notable occupational exposure to COPD risk factors. Canada scores slightly below average in the Health System Characteristics category, mainly due to a low number of respiratory specialists, but also a relatively high number of COPD hospitalisations. Conversely, Canada’s score in Access and Care Coverage is above average, with the highest level of Universal Health Care Service Coverage, but weak conditions for access to telemedicine and digital therapeutics, as well as weaker than average care referral pathways.
COPD Index Key Takeaways
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following takeaways regarding COPD care in Canada.
Strong tobacco control policies, a key to reducing the burden of COPD
There is a relatively low number of respiratory specialists
Gaps in access to COPD care, but the highest level of Universal Health Care Service Coverage
Best Practices for COPD Care
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following best practices regarding COPD care in Canada.
Strong anti-smoking legislation
Excellent national COPD guidelines
Comprehensive case-management
Challenges for COPD Care
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following challenges regarding COPD care in Canada.
Lack of awareness of COPD
Access to spirometry is limited
Pulmonary rehabilitation is underutilised
Opportunities for COPD Care
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following opportunities regarding COPD care in Canada.
Increase support for specialist respiratory clinics
Leverage the Canadian Thoracic Society’s COPD guidelines to improve care and medication access
Priorities for COPD Care
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following priorities regarding COPD care in Canada.
Increase COPD awareness
Support improved access to primary care
Health care capacity building for COPD
Compare Canada to other countries
Select different countries to see how they scored across each of the 5 categories and overall
Key Contributor Insights
“Universal access to spirometry testing and interpretation should be a priority.”
“All multi-practice clinics should have a Respiratory Educator on staff to assist GPs in administering spirometry to any current or former smokers.”
“Lung function testing (CT, X-ray, etc.) should be promoted for all people over 50 who have ever smoked or work in toxic (polluted) environments (i.e., welders, firefighters, etc.). The attitude toward these lung/health tests should be similar to the promotion of colonoscopy screening for men over 50 or for breast cancer screening for women.”
“Simple COPD guidelines are widely known to physicians, and they are not fully implemented in practice.”
Sources
You can view the data sources for this country HERE