Company highlights commitment to driving awareness of COPD prevalence and treatment options

Andover, MA. – In recognition of World COPD Day, Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) today announced the launch of a survey designed to evaluate the key issues affecting those living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The survey, which will be launched in its first phase in a number of countries, included the U.S., U.K. and Germany, aims to uncover some of the day-to-day challenges that people living with COPD face – whether physical, emotional or psychological.– helping to inform and inspire Philips’ next-generation of innovative technology solutions for proactive management of the disease. Open only to patients who have been diagnosed and are currently living with COPD, Philips expects findings to be available in early 2015.

 "COPD is highly prevalent, but few people know how serious the condition is or have information at their fingertips to make decisions about when they should talk to their doctor," said Eli Diacopoulos, general manager, Respiratory Care, Philips Respironics. "Today, on World COPD Day, and every day, Philips is working to raise awareness of COPD among both patients and physicians and is committed to developing solutions to help better manage COPD across the entire health continuum."

Generating awareness for COPD prevalence

COPD is a progressive condition that makes it difficult to breathe and can cause coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and other symptoms that often equate to limited involvement in many everyday activities. Management of COPD is challenging and often costly, as the progressive nature of the disease leads many patients to require complicated therapies and frequent hospital visits.

According to the World Health Organization, worldwide, chronic diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, cancers, diabetes and COPD account for over 63% of deaths annually. The World Economic Forum estimates the global economic impact of these chronic diseases could total $47 trillion over the next 20 years.

In the U.S., more than 12 million adults have been diagnosed with COPD, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports as the country’s third leading cause of death. Furthermore, as of October 1, 2014, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has begun to financially penalize hospitals if 30-day readmission rates for COPD are higher than expected – making proactive management of patients with COPD a critical issue for healthcare providers.

Driving innovation for COPD patients

Philips currently works alongside leading healthcare organizations globally to develop solutions that can help respiratory patients breathe easier – even when on the go. These innovative solutions are used by more than 1 million COPD patients each and every day for both acute and long-term management care.[i] Across the health continuum, Philips end-to-end respiratory care and monitoring solutions are designed to provide comfortable and efficient treatment and allow patients to easily transition from hospital to home.

Philips is dedicated to supporting physicians with solutions to enable them to provide effective care for COPD patients. The company works with providers and durable medical equipment providers to implement customized programs to better manage patients at discharge – programs that are designed to help reduce hospital readmissions and the healthcare dollars spent on COPD management.

An annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), World COPD Day aims to improve awareness and care of COPD around the world. In 2014 the event will focus on the theme "It's Not Too Late.” For more information please visit http://www.goldcopd.org/wcd-home.html.

To learn more about Philips’ commitment to driving awareness of COPD prevalence and care management options, join the World #COPDDay conversation on Twitter @PhilipsResp or on the Philips Respironics Facebook Page.