Philips 2011 Annual Report Download - page 17

3 Our strategy in action 3 - 3
Annual Report 2011 17
COPD home care solutions:
Philips delivers
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a life-threatening lung disorder, affects nearly 600
million people. Philips’ comprehensive portfolio of home oxygen therapy is changing the
quality of life for COPD sufferers around the world.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which
includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, threatens the
lives and futures of nearly 600 million people according to
the World Health Organization. By 2020, COPD will
become the third leading cause of death worldwide.
Unfortunately, there is no cure. But there is hope and
promising treatments. Clinicians have found that the use
of supplemental home oxygen is one of the most effective
new treatment options. In fact, long-term oxygen therapy
has been shown to significantly improve life expectancy in
patients with COPD.
But improved quality of life is equally important. Because
COPD patients using home oxygen are relatively young,
averaging between 45 and 60 years old, many find
themselves juggling a job and children while coping with
COPD. Meeting the demands of busy lives means today’s
COPD patients need a range of innovative devices that
support both their health and lifestyles. To improve their
quality of life, oxygen therapy must be smaller, lighter,
longer-lasting, and highly portable. The ability to generate
oxygen at home can also help patients avoid inconvenient
waits for deliveries and better manage their time and
therapy. COPD patients deserve solutions to address the
health and quality of life challenges they face every
day. Philips is leading the way in providing those solutions.
Home oxygen treatments designed for the
front line
As a global leader in home healthcare, we are committed
to the development of better home oxygen solutions to
help people with chronic lung diseases such as COPD. At