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World COPD Day: All together to end COPD

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COPD is a preventable and treatable disease that causes breathlessness, chronic sputum production and cough. There are 300 million current cases of COPD in the world.

20 November, World COPD day, adopts the theme ‘All together to end COPD’  to emphasise the fact that many people are involved in the fight to end COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). 

COPD is a preventable and treatable disease that causes breathlessness, chronic sputum production and cough. There are 300 million current cases of COPD in the world. At every stage and at any age, there is an opportunity to prevent or treat COPD.  From care providers, families and patients, to policy makers and employers - everyone can make an impact. To mark the day, The Union has made a selection of COPD-related content in the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) open-access.

The goal of World COPD Day is to raise awareness and present new knowledge and novel therapeutic strategies for COPD. Initiatives to reduce the burden of COPD are taking place worldwide, including smoking-cessation programmes, fighting against both indoor and outdoor air pollution, as well as examining childhood disadvantage factors. Although there is no current cure for COPD, action can take place at any stage of the disease by a variety of individuals in many types of settings. Employers can strive for safe breathing environments, citizens can be good stewards of air cleanliness, and both patients and families can help advocate for more research and better access to care.  Providers and policy makers can work together to improve access to spirometry, essential medications, and other treatments like pulmonary rehabilitation in addition to furthering research to improve patient outcomes.

World COPD Day is an annual global initiative run by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). GOLD, along with The Union, are members of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS).

The Union has made a special selection of COPD content open-access from The Union’s monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal, the IJTLD. The content has been made open-access until 2 December 2019. To access the content, click on the article links below;