The Human and Economic Burden of COPD: A Leading Cause of Hospi ta l Admission in Canada F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 0 The Human and Economic Burden of COPD: A Leading Cause of Hospital Admission in Canada Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is among Not only is COPD the leading cause of hospital admissions, the most overlooked and misunderstood chronic conditions it also has a much higher read [...] In the CIHI report, 18% of COPD patients were readmitted once within the year and 14% Too frequently, both in Canada and around the world, twice within the year. [...] Bourbeau stresses the written action plan that helps the patient learn to recognize a lung attack and to treat it The right medications, coupled promptly with a self-administered prescription of antibiotic and prednisone, with follow-up by a health professional to with a patient-education plan to ensure that the patient is responding. [...] Physicians need to be aware of the high incidence and prevalence of the disease, and to test for it.