Bengaluru: One of the most common medical issues in the city today are respiratory problems. Just when the global debate on the adverse effects of rising air pollution levels and deteriorating air quality in Indian cities is heating up, the findings of the Poseidon study further highlight the increasing occurrence of respiratory problems.
The city’s battle with respiratory issues and breathlessness has now been established through a pan-India study. The ‘One-day Point Prevalence Study’ was conducted across the country. The study revealed that more than 52.88 percent of patients visit a doctor for respiratory problems in the IT city. Interestingly, the number is close to the all-India figure of 50 percent, pointing to the fact that the lung is the most commonly affected organ among Indians.
The study also found that the most common diagnosis made by primary care physicians in Bengaluru, is upper respiratory tract infection. The disease burden in India is at an all-time high with the country witnessing the maximum number of deaths due to chronic respiratory diseases. Respiratory diseases affect not just general health, but also the overall quality of life of patients, necessitating early diagnosis and right treatment.
“Resorting to new-age treatments, such as inhalation therapy for management of chronic respiratory ailments, including asthma and COPD, can go a long way in helping patients lead quality lives,” says, Dr. Sundeep Salvi, Director, Chest Research Foundation.
According to the results of the study, an average doctor in Bangalore, sees around 26 patients a day. The study involved keeping a record of all patients attended to by 13,250 physicians, including general practitioners, general physicians and pediatricians from across 880 cities and towns. A total of 7,400 doctors provided high-quality data pertaining to 204,912 patients, which was analysed for symptoms and diagnosis as reported by the physician.
“The city's terrain is prone to allergic manifestations and adding to that there is urbanisation, vehicular pollution, pollen, waste management-- all contributing to respiratory problems. This study should ensure a thorough look into the pollution and waste management crisis in the issue,” says Dr Shashidhar Buggi, Director of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) and SDS Tuberculosis Research Centre.
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