Overview
- On World COPD Day, WHO-linked experts and patient advocates urged reframing public messaging, improving clinician training, and expanding pulmonary rehabilitation.
- Roughly 391 million people live with COPD worldwide, now a top cause of death, and in some countries up to 70% of cases remain undiagnosed.
- A review of about 83,000 news articles found smoking referenced in roughly 68% of coverage while pollution and other exposures appeared in only about 11%, reinforcing self-blame and delayed care.
- Access to pulmonary rehabilitation remains limited, with about 3% uptake in the U.S. and scarce programs in low- and middle-income countries, prompting calls for earlier, symptom-based referral.
- In Argentina, a new analysis estimates 2.3 million people over 40 have COPD and 77% are undiagnosed, citing gaps in spirometry access and recommending a national program and decentralized rehabilitation.