Many Smokers Oblivious To 'Warning Signs' Of Killer Lung Disease
One in five smokers (21%) aged between 15-54 have a persistent smoker's cough, yet half (48%) do not realise that it could be an early warning sign of a potentially serious lung disease. These are some of the findings of a major new MORI survey released for the British Thoracic Society COPD Consortium.
A persistent smoker's cough is one of many early symptoms of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Others include breathlessness on mild exertion, persistent production of phlegm and frequent coughs and colds in winter. COPD is an umbrella term, which covers smoking-related conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It causes the lungs to become increasingly obstructed over time, making breathing more and more difficult.
The MORI Social Research Institute survey found that:
- 47% of people who have heard of COPD did not know that COPD was related to smoking (even though 95% per cent of COPD cases are caused by smoking and more than one in 10 smokers will develop COPD.)
- Seven in 10 smokers aged 15-54 (68%) would urge their friends and family to visit a GP if they suffered from a persistent cough but 19% who have or have had one or more of these symptoms have visited the GP themselves
- Of those suffering from one or more symptoms two fifths (42%) had not visited their GP to have them checked out. Of these, about one in 10 hadn't done so because they felt they were too busy
Technical details
MORI interviewed a nationally representative quota sample of 1006 adults aged 15+ (excluding health professionals) from 187 sampling points across Great Britain between 31 July -- 5 August 2003. All interviews were carried out face-to-face, in-home using CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing). Data were weighted to reflect the known population profile.
Topline Results
- 922 adults interviewed in 2001 and 1,073 aged 15+ interviewed in 2003
- Face-to-face, in-home
- Between 23-28 August 2001 and 31 July-5 August 2003
- 188 and 187 sampling points throughout great britain
- An asterisk (*) indicates a percentage of less than 0.5% but greater than zero
- Data have been weighted to reflect the national profile
- Base all, unless stated otherwise
Q1 Firstly, may I ask you whether you are a healthcare professional (i.e. a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist or other health professional?)
All Aged 15+ (1,073)
| '01 | '03 | |
|---|---|---|
| % | % | |
| Yes | 6 | 6 |
| No | 94 | 94 |
Q2 Which, if any, of the following medical conditions have you heard of?
Base: All who are not health professionals
| '01 | '03 | |
|---|---|---|
| Base | 866 | 1006 |
| % | % | |
| Asthma | 98 | 95 |
| Cervical Cancer | 94 | 89 |
| Chronic Bronchitis | 92 | 88 |
| Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease (COAD) | 31 | 22 |
| Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) | 35 | 26 |
| Emphysema | 79 | 75 |
| Multiple Sclerosis | 92 | 90 |
| Parkinson's Disease | 95 | 92 |
| None of these | * | 2 |
| Don't Know | * | 0 |
Q3 What, if anything, do you think might be the first signs that someone has a potentially serious lung disease?
Base: All who are not health professionals
| '01 | '03 | |
|---|---|---|
| Base | 866 | 1006 |
| % | % | |
| Blue fingers and toes | 1 | 1 |
| Breathlessness on mild exertion e.g. walking up a flight of stairs or running for the bus | 55 | 55 |
| Chest pain | 9 | 9 |
| Coughing/A cough | 35 | 42 |
| Coughing fits/Persistent coughing | 22 | 14 |
| Coughing up blood | 16 | 10 |
| Frequent coughs and colds in the winter | 3 | 1 |
| Persistent production of phlegm/spit | 3 | 4 |
| Difficulty speaking | * | 1 |
| Dizziness | 2 | 2 |
| General lethargy/malaise/tiredness | 3 | 5 |
| Irritability | * | 0 |
| Loss of concentration | * | 0 |
| Reddish/blue colour in the face | 2 | 3 |
| Tightness in the chest | 6 | 3 |
| Wheezing | NA | 7 |
| Other (Please write in and code '5') | 8 | 8 |
| Nothing/No signs | - | 1 |
| Don't know | 8 | 7 |
Q4 Which, if any, of the following symptoms do you have or have you ever had?
Base: All who are not health professionals
| '01 | '03 | |
|---|---|---|
| Base | 866 | 1006 |
| % | % | |
| Breathlessness on mild exertion e.g. walking up a flight of stairs or running for the bus | 29 | 29 |
| Frequent coughs and colds in the winter | 22 | 24 |
| Persistent cough | 13 | 17 |
| Persistent production of phlegm/spit | 9 | 11 |
| None of these | 51 | 49 |
| Don't know | * | 0 |
Q5 And which, if any, of these symptoms that you just mentioned have you visited your GP about?
Base: All who have or have had one or more of these symptoms
| '01 | '03 | |
|---|---|---|
| Base | 439 | 515 |
| % | % | |
| Breathlessness on mild exertion e.g. walking up a flight of stairs or running for the bus | 34 | 31 |
| Frequent coughs and colds in the winter | 26 | 21 |
| Persistent cough | 17 | 22 |
| Persistent production of phlegm/spit | 10 | 12 |
| None of these | 40 | 42 |
| Don't know | * | 1 |
Q6 For what reason or reasons did you not visit the GP about any of these symptoms?
Base: All who have not visited their GP for any of these symptoms
| '01 | '03 | |
|---|---|---|
| Base | 165 | 201 |
| % | % | |
| Dislike my doctor | 1 | 0 |
| Doctor is too far away | * | 2 |
| Doctor would just tell me to give up smoking | 23 | 10 |
| Did not think that treatment would help | 6 | 7 |
| Not bothered by the symptoms/ Did not think the symptoms were anything to worry about | 57 | 41 |
| Scared it would be something serious | 2 | 2 |
| Takes too long to get a doctor's appointment | 13 | 4 |
| Too busy/Did not have time | 15 | 10 |
| Unaware that symptoms should be checked out by a doctor | 13 | 9 |
| OTHER RESPONSES | ||
| Visited pharmacist | NA | 2 |
| Symptoms due to being overweight/Doctor would tell me to lose weight | NA | 2 |
| Already knew what the problem was | NA | 2 |
| Other | 9 | 2 |
| None of these | 4 | 15 |
| Don't know | 0 | 3 |
Q7 When you went to your GP with these symptoms, which, if any, of the following tests did he or she carry out, or authorise to be carried out?
Base: All who visited their GP for any of the symptoms (310)
| % | |
|---|---|
| Blood pressure test | 42 |
| Blood test | 37 |
| Breathing test/Blowing test/Peak Expiratory Flow | 42 |
| Chest X-ray | 35 |
| Cholesterol test | 20 |
| Heart tracing test (ECG) | 23 |
| Listened to breathing with a stethoscope | 64 |
| Sputum/Spit test | 10 |
| Urine test | 20 |
| Other | 2 |
| None of these | 6 |
| Don't know | 1 |
Q8 Using this card, please tell me what else, if anything, happened when you saw your GP?
Base: All who visited their GP for any of the symptoms (310)
| % | |
|---|---|
| ...prescribed medicine | 68 |
| ...prescribed oxygen therapy | 4 |
| ...given advice about stopping smoking | 23 |
| ...given advice about taking exercise | 15 |
| ...given advice about diet | 15 |
| ...given details of a patient help group | 3 |
| ...referred to a hospital specialist | 29 |
| ...referred to the practice nurse | 16 |
| Nothing happened | 3 |
| Other | 3 |
| None of these | 6 |
| Don't know | 0 |
Q9 On this card is a list of symptoms. Which, if any, of the following would you encourage a member of your family or a close friend to visit their GP about if they had that symptom?
Base: All who are not health professionals (1006)
| % | |
|---|---|
| Breathlessness on mild exertion e.g. walking up a flight of stairs or running for the bus | 63 |
| Frequent coughs and colds in the winter | 52 |
| Persistent cough | 71 |
| Persistent production of phlegm/spit | 52 |
| None of these | 8 |
| Don't know | 2 |
Q10 Which, if any, of the following do you think are among the top five killers in the UK?
Base: All who are not health professionals (1006)
| % | |
|---|---|
| AIDS | 38 |
| Asthma | 16 |
| Breast Cancer | 62 |
| Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) | 22 |
| Diabetes | 22 |
| Heart disease | 90 |
| Lung Cancer | 85 |
| Stroke | 58 |
| None of these | 1 |
| Don't know | 1 |
Q11 I am now going to read out a list of statements about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD, sometimes known as Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease. For each one, please could you tell me if you think it is true or false?
Base: All who have heard of COPD or COAD (323)
| True | False | Don't know | |
|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | |
| COPD only affects men | 2 | 81 | 18 |
| Early diagnosis of COPD can improve quality of life | 79 | 6 | 15 |
| COPD can only be treated by surgery | 16 | 50 | 34 |
| COPD can be cured by treatment | 44 | 29 | 26 |
| COPD is another name for emphysema | 28 | 32 | 40 |
| COPD is caused by smoking | 53 | 26 | 22 |
| Giving up smoking can stop COPD getting worse | 69 | 13 | 18 |
| COPD is a heart disease | 34 | 46 | 21 |
| COPD is a lung disease | 62 | 18 | 20 |
Q12 Which of the following best applies to you?
Base: All who are not health professionals
| '01 | '03 | |
|---|---|---|
| Base | 866 | 1006 |
| % | % | |
| I have never smoked | 39 | 35 |
| I have only ever smoked a few times in my life | 10 | 10 |
| I used to smoke up to 10 a day but I have given up now* | N/A | 7 |
| I used to smoke between 10 and 20 a day but I have given up now* | N/A | 4 |
| I used to smoke over 20 a day but I have given up now* | N/A | 7 |
| I smoke but I don't smoke every day | 3 | 3 |
| I smoke every day | 26 | 24 |
| I only smoke in social situations | 2 | 3 |
| I live and/or work in a smoky environment $ | N/A | 5 |
| None of these | - | 5 |
| Don't know | * | 0 |
Please note that the categories at this question were slightly amended. * categories are new, having replaced the category 'I used to smoke but I have given up now' . A fifth of respondents gave this response in the previous survey. $ category is also a new addition.
Q13 If you or a member of your family had a medical condition, from which, if any, of these ways would you like to get hold of information on it?
Base: All who are not health professionals (1006)
| % | |
|---|---|
| From a booklet | 18 |
| By looking online/On the internet | 28 |
| From a GP or Practice nurse | 83 |
| From a hospital specialist | 40 |
| Through your pharmacist | 21 |
| From television | 6 |
| From the radio | 3 |
| From newspaper(s) | 4 |
| From magazine(s) | 5 |
| From a charity | 7 |
| Other | 2 |
| None of these | 2 |
| Don't know | 2 |
Q14 Over the past year, do you remember any mentions in newspapers, magazines, on TV or on the radio of smokers' cough being an early warning sign of a lung disease, or not?
Base: All who are not health professionals (1006)
| % | |
|---|---|
| Yes | 37 |
| No | 60 |
| Don't know | 4 |
If you would like to stop smoking you can get help from your local GP or pharmacist -- or call the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0 169. If you are concerned about any issues brought up by this survey please see your GP or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
