Helping Australians breathe easier: pharmacy’s role in COPD care

For community pharmacists, who often encounter people with respiratory symptoms, COPD is both a challenge and an opportunity to support earlier diagnosis, education and referral. Leanne Philpott investigates KEY POINTS: COPD remains under‑diagnosed and under‑treated. Around 50% of people with COPD are unaware of their condition. Early symptoms are often attributed to smoking, reduced fitness