Greece COPD Index
Rank
(out of 24 countries)
15
Index Score
(out of 100)
65.01
Deaths
(as a % of overall deaths)
3.48%
Smoking Rate
33.5%
Societal Costs
(cost per person)
$272
Above average performance
Average performance
Below average performance
Greece is among the top scorers in the Health System Characteristics category, with the highest number of respiratory specialists, good conditions for health data recording, and a low 365-day readmission for COPD.
Greece is among the top scorers in the Health System Characteristics category, with the highest number of respiratory specialists, good conditions for health data recording, and a low 365-day readmission for COPD. However, Greece reports a low primary care physician density. Greece’s performance in the Access and Care Coverage category score is slightly above average, with strong referral care pathways and relatively good conditions for diagnosis, treatment, and drug access, but it could be significantly improved through better access to telemedicine and addressing the level high relative poverty. Greece scores above average in the Environmental Factors category due to low occupational exposure to COPD risk factors and relatively good indoor air quality. In the Policy Context category, Greece scores below average, mainly due to the lack of a national COPD strategy and the comparatively small scope and weak implementation of tobacco control policy, despite relatively good adherence to COPD guidelines. Similarly, Greece’s score in the Disease Burden category is above average, with the second highest tobacco use rate and a relatively high COPD prevalence and COPD death rate.
COPD Index Key Takeaways
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following takeaways regarding COPD care in Greece.
Strong Health System Characteristics, mostly attributable to the highest reported density of respiratory specialists
Relatively weak tobacco control policy
2nd highest tobacco use rate among the COPD Index countries
Best Practices for COPD Care
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following best practices regarding COPD care in Greece.
Universal access to medication
Reimbursement for spirometry
Social media-driven initiatives with influencers to motivate smokers and COPD patients to seek treatment
Challenges for COPD Care
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following challenges regarding COPD care in Greece.
Low smoking cessation rates
Access to good quality spirometry
Delayed diagnosis and underdiagnosis in primary care
Opportunities for COPD Care
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following opportunities regarding COPD care in Greece.
Early use of case-finding strategies
Increase staff training in primary care spirometry
Raise COPD awareness and knowledge among primary care professionals, patients, and communities
Priorities for COPD Care
Data from the COPD Index revealed the following priorities regarding COPD care in Greece.
Increase number of specialist referral centres
Compare Greece 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] ... Diagnosis and treatment of COPD is not always consistent with GOLD guidelines, especially in the primary care setting in Greece. Nowadays studies show that up to 50% of the patients with COPD are underdiagnosed, COPD patients are usually overtreated and subjects with respiratory symptoms in the primary care setting are incorrectly diagnosed and treated as severe COPD.”
“[Strong country practice is that] … Currently, there are outpatient clinics and pulmonary departments throughout the country. Smokers without COPD and COPD patients can be examined in these settings. In case of an emergency, COPD patients can visit the emergency departments of public hospitals.”
Overview
You can view the data sources for this country HERE