Overview
- WHO representatives and patient leaders say COPD affects about 391 million people worldwide and warn projections reach 600 million cases with a $4.3 trillion global cost by 2050.
- Argentina’s new Respiratory Health Initiative/EPOC.ar1 data estimate more than 2.3 million people over 40 have COPD and 77% are undiagnosed, with scarce primary‑care spirometry and a fragmented system driving misdiagnosis.
- Experts stress that causes extend beyond tobacco to biomass smoke, air pollution and occupational exposures, urging a shift from “smoker’s cough” to “chronic cough” to reduce stigma and prompt care‑seeking.
- Policy recommendations include national COPD programs, risk‑based systematic spirometry screening, creation of registries, decentralized pulmonary rehabilitation, and stronger cessation and environmental measures.
- Mexico’s IMSS reports 50–80% of cases likely go undetected and highlights expanded advanced inhaled therapies alongside early evaluation for people exposed to tobacco, biomass or workplace fumes, with rehab access still severely limited in many countries.