Denmark COPD Index
Rank
(out of 24 countries)
22
Index Score
(out of 100)
62.91
Deaths
(as a % of overall deaths)
8.49%
Smoking Rate
17.5%
Societal Costs
(cost per person)
$1655
Above average performance
Average performance
Below average performance
Denmark has the highest score in the Access and Care Coverage category, primarily due to good diagnostic conditions, robust care referral pathways, and access to telemedicine.
Denmark scores low in the Health System Characteristics category, with low specialist and primary care doctor density, high hospitalisation rates, and frequent annual COPD hospital readmissions. Denmark is the lowest scorer in the Disease Burden category, which is driven by high estimated societal costs, high COPD prevalence, COPD-related deaths, and maternal smoking rates. Denmark has the highest score in the Access and Care Coverage category, primarily due to good diagnostic conditions, robust care referral pathways, and access to telemedicine. It also scores relatively high in the Policy Context category, thanks to clear COPD guidelines and high levels of general adherence, despite the lack of a comprehensive COPD strategy. Denmark ranks 6th in Environmental Factors, benefiting from good indoor air quality and low levels of particulate matter exposure. Denmark’s relatively low overall index score despite robust Policy Context can be partly explained by the limited strength and scope of the tobacco policy and its implementation, as high maternal smoking rates are observed, while a comprehensive COPD strategy is also lacking.
COPD Index Key Takeaways
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following takeaways regarding COPD care in Denmark.
Denmark has clear and well-implemented COPD guidelines with high adherence among healthcare providers
Denmark presents the second highest burden of COPD and third highest rate of COPD deaths
More robust and better implemented tobacco control laws and improved access to specialist care would improve Denmark’s overall score
Best Practices for COPD Care
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following best practices regarding COPD care in Denmark.
Low barriers to accessing care (e.g., no copays for consultations)
Strong adherence to evidence-based guidelines
Good utilisation of diagnostics and follow-up protocols
Challenges for COPD Care
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following challenges regarding COPD care in Denmark.
Late diagnosis and lack of specialists once diagnosis is made
Prioritisation of and support for smoking cessation is less robust than it could be
Perceived social stigmatization of COPD patients
Priorities for COPD Care
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following priorities regarding COPD care in Denmark.
Develop and implement more multidisciplinary, personalised, and integrated COPD care
Higher levels of tobacco taxation to support COPD prevention
Implement a standardised approach to COPD screening
Compare Denmark to other countries
Select different countries to see how they scored across each of the 5 categories and overall
Key Contributor Insights
“[The challenge is that] … COPD patients are diagnosed pretty late (partially due to themselves, not searching for medical help), vaping is a threat for COPD in the future (not enough prevention efforts for this), management needs for more individualised treatment…”
“[The challenge is that] … GPs lack of insight in the complexity of the disease; quality of spirometry…”
“[The challenge is that] … In primary care where the majority of the COPD population is treated, including patients with a significant disease burden, the main care trajectory is mostly carried out in a monodisciplinary way by a general practitioner. Referral of symptomatic patients with obstructive lung disease to physiotherapy, occupational therapy, respiratory nurse or other allied health care by the general practitioner occurs hardly...”
Sources
You can view the data sources for this country HERE