World Lung Day: Perth lights up blue to raise awareness about breathlessness

Tomorrow Perth’s Matagarup Bridge and key buildings across the city will light up blue for World Lung Day to highlight the issue of breathlessness.

This common symptom is linked to several lung conditions and drains at least $12 billion from the Australian economy each year through health and productivity costs. People living with breathlessness are more likely to be unemployed and have a reduced quality of life according to recent research.

Shortness of breath (‘dyspnoea’) that is not associated with strenuous exercise affects people diagnosed with multiple lung conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis), lung cancer, silicosis, asthma and pulmonary fibrosis (PF).

PF expert Associate Professor Vidya Navaratnam from the Institute for Respiratory Health explained the impact. “Breathlessness costs the healthcare system around $11.1 billion every year, this excludes loss productivity costs.

“People with breathlessness are twice as likely to need urgent visits to see their doctor and up to three times more likely to require frequent specialist care. Despite this, respiratory research is severely underfunded and outcomes for lung conditions have barely improved over the last 20 years.

“There’s no cure for conditions like PF and we still have a lot to learn about what causes lung scarring. That’s why research and experimental drug trials are so important.

“Over the past year we have expanded our portfolio of studies to give patients more options. Some of these research studies look at medications that are currently used for other health conditions.”

The Institute runs leading international respiratory clinical trials from Nedlands and Midland to explore new treatments that could slow down or stop the progression of PF, and other lung conditions, or even find a cure.

One of these trials is helping Perth local Tony Warwick, who was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in 2022. He is participating in a trial for Treprostinil which may improve exercise capacity and slow the progression of his disease.

“Without clinical trials there wouldn’t be medical breakthroughs,” said Mr Warwick.

“I’m also on a PBS-approved medication called Nintedanib which helps slow the disease. IPF is like an invisible disability but with the help of medication I’m still able to do the things I love like cycling and playing golf twice a week.

“I feel incredibly fortunate that leading respiratory trials are held right here in my hometown. Without them, I wouldn’t have access to experimental treatments and medications like Nintedanib wouldn’t be available to me today. Thanks to these trials, I can maintain my quality of life and breathe more easily.”

To raise awareness of lung conditions like PF during PF Awareness Month and on World Lung Day tomorrow, Matagarup Bridge and Council House will light up blue.

For more information on the Institute’s clinical trials visit respclinicaltrials.org.au.