15 million people in Europe and 9 million in United States suffer with chronic bronchitis.2,3,4,5
With chronic bronchitis, the airways produce excess mucus, resulting in chronic cough and shortness of breath.
Disease Progression
Chronic bronchitis develops after exposure to cigarette smoke, vaping, secondhand smoke, airborne chemicals, or other pollution and irritants.
1.
Exposure to irritants, cigarette smoke, vaping liquid, or pollutants
2.
Production of mucus to expel irritants
3.
Chronic inflammation causes more mucus production
Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Bronchitis
Increased mucus production
Persistent, heavy cough that expels mucus
Fatigue
Sleep disruption
Shortness of breath
COPD patients with chronic bronchitis have a reduced quality of life, worse respiratory symptoms, and a higher risk of exacerbations compared to COPD patients without chronic bronchitis.6
64% worse
respiratory symptoms
1.4x more
likely to be awakened by cough
Currently there are no other treatment options for chronic bronchitis that directly target the cells that produce mucus.7
References:
- Fernandez-Bussy et al. Histopathologic Results Post Bronchial Rheoplasty. ATS 2019, Dallas, TX.
- FastStats – Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) / National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) 2017; https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/copd.htm
- Criner, G. Chronic Bronchitis: The Case for an Unmet Medical Need. ERS 2017, Milan, Italy
- Health at a Glance: Europe (2012 and 2014 reports) http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/health-at-a-glance-europe-2012_9789264183896-en
- Cerveri, et al, Variations in the prevalence across countries of Chronic Bronchitis and smoking habits in young adults; Eur Respir J 2001; 18: 85–92
- Kim et al. The Chronic Bronchitic Phenotype of COPD: An analysis of the COPD Gene Study CHEST 2011; 140(3):626–633
- Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of COPD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2017. Available from: https://goldcopd.org.