A life in the shadow of COPD : Symptom burden, caregiver burden and strategies to manage daily life

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an irreversible obstructive lung disease. In Sweden, 400,000 to 700,000 individuals are affected by this disease, and it is the third most common diagnosis. Among those with COPD, approximately 3% are at Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages III and IV, representing severe disease. Persons affected by COPD have symptoms such as breathing problems, cough, and increased mucus production. The persons affected by COPD and the next of kin have an affected life. The affected person need support from the next of kin and from society.next of kin and being an informal caregiver and can be problematic (Suresh 2022).