The number of respiratory diseases is currently increasing the most compared to other diseases. Chronic diseases of the lungs include primarily the widely known Bronchial asthma and the COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
COPD, for example, is now one of the most common diseases and is listed in the WHO TOP-TEN diseases in 4th place. COPD is a collective term for chronic obstructive bronchitis and emphysema and must not be confused with the chronic form of bronchial asthma.
Parallel to these two respiratory diseases, the Lung cancer which has become the number 1 cause of cancer death worldwide in recent years.
Currently, the COVID 19 pandemic further "in breathlessness" as well as its consequences the under the name LONG COVID have already found a designation. Initially, viral infection. Also their consequences also classified as respiratory disease. In the meantime, however, they are considered as systemic diseases due to the available empirical data.
The symptoms usually also affect the lungs to a relevant extent, but beyond that, u.a. neurological and cardiological symptoms must be taken into account. In the field of LONG COVID show up in practice u.a. in addition to respiratory problems, especially muscular deficits, tactile, olifactory and gustatory impairments, coordination weaknesses and a wide variety of psychological effects.
A lot of work is waiting for us in collecting data and experiences, which we will gladly face in the future for the benefit of ill people, but also preventively!
Deficits in research in clinical and outpatient follow-up care
For many years, the Founder of the Research Society for Respiratory Diseases, confronted with these forms of disease through many years of clinical experience in everyday life and/or through personal perception as a resident of the North Sea island of Fohr, in contact with affected persons.
Thus the common conviction developed to have to become active. Because although the Need for research in the field of respiratory diseases is large, research activities in pneumology (pulmonary medicine) still have a lot of room for improvement, both quantitatively and qualitatively. We see a deficit in research activities in the spectrum of clinical and outpatient aftercare. Here specifically the area of Rehabilitation downright stepmotherly Treats.
Many studies prove how valuable and sustainable the effect of a professional, holistic rehabilitation in a suitable environment is. Especially in comparison to many drug interventions, the long-term benefits with focus on the disease progression of the patients and their quality of life are, according to experience, very positive and sustainable.
Foundation of the association Forschungsgesellschaft Atemwegerkrankungen e.V.
One reason for the situation described above is certainly the considerable financial and human resources that are required to answer questions or. to research problems. This is exactly where we want to start with the foundation of our association "Forschungsgesellschaft Atemwegerkrankungen e.V." approach.
Finance we will support our activities mainly by contributions from the hopefully increasing number of members and by grants from people and institutions who want to support our commitment to respiratory research. We are pleased to report that our research company has been approved by the Flensburg tax office as a non-profit Recognized for the purpose of "promoting public health" and therefore are Grants to us tax deductible.
Our first project – start 2017 / the results – February 2021
The first project supported and financed by us in this way is the Rehab study "Introduction and evaluation of the aftercare concept New Credo in rehabilitants with COPD" in cooperation with Prof. Dr. phil. Dipl.-Soz. Ruth Deck from Institute for Social Medicine and Epidemiology (ISE) at the University of Lubeck, which started in February 2017.
We are pleased that since February 2021, after extensive evaluations, the results are available and we (Dr. Ralf J. Jochheim, Dr. Dr. Michael Badke) at the 30. Reha-Scientific Colloqium of the German Pension Insurance on the 25th of March in Berlin. were able to present an excerpt of the results in March 2021.
Study proves: positive rehab effects can be maintained
With the study "Effects of accompanied aftercare in the post-rehab phase in COPD patients: a controlled study" it could be proven that accompanied aftercare can maintain rehab effects to a greater extent. This is how the follow-up concept helps to increase physical activity.