A new website was launched recently aiming to increase awareness and understanding of chronic disease in Ireland. The website, www.chronic-disease.ie, contains information and statistics on long term diseases including Atrial Fibrillation, Diabetes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Asthma.

The site, managed by the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim Ireland, aims to give a “national picture” on chronic disease with a breakdown of facts and statistics for the country as a whole as well as by province and county.

The website, chronic-disease.ie, fills an information deficit that exists around some of the most common chronic diseases in Ireland, said Oireachtas Health Committee Chairman, Deputy Jerry Buttimer. ‘Every county in Ireland is profiled in great detail, meaning that this site serves as a one-stop-shop for citizens, public representatives and anyone with an interest in health.”

Alpha-1 features prominently in the section on COPD noting that it is a genetic component of COPD and highlighting the World Health Organisation Guidelines which recommend all patients with COPD should be screened for Alpha-1. Thank you to Caroline Daly from Boehringer who consulted with many patient organisations including the Alpha One Foundation in the development of this excellent website. 

To visit this extremely informative and interesting website see here.