Debate on World COPD day

World COPD Day is organised by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GICOLD). The focus for World COPD Day 2025 is improving diagnosis of the condition.

What is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name given to a group of health conditions that affect the lungs and cause breathing difficulties.

COPD includes conditions like emphysema (damage to the air sacs found in the lungs) and chronic bronchitis (long-term inflammation of the airways).

Patients with COPD experience symptoms like shortness of breath, a chesty cough, frequent chest infections and wheezing. Over time, these symptoms usually get worse, and patients can also experience sudden flare-ups or exacerbations, especially during the winter months.

How many people have COPD?

The most recent data published by the NHS shows that there were over 1.17 million patients recorded by GPs as having COPD in England in 2023/2024. Constituency-level data for the number of patients registered with COPD in England is available via the Commons Library data dashboard, Constituency data: health conditions.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) explains that estimates of the number of people affected by COPD vary widely, and there are concerns about under-recognition and under-diagnosis of the condition. NICE notes that previous government research suggests that COPD affects around 3 million people in the UK, of which 2 million are undiagnosed.

The charity Asthma and Lung UK estimates that there are around 1.7 million people with COPD, and 600,000 people who are living with undiagnosed COPD in the UK.

What causes COPD?

The main cause of COPD is smoking. According to the NHS, smoking is thought to be responsible for 9 in every 10 cases of COPD.

Other causes include exposure to certain types of dust or chemical fumes at work. Some research suggests that long-term exposure to air pollution and some genetic differences can increase the risk of developing COPD. A recent systematic review of published research has also suggested that the use of e-cigarettes (vapes) may increase the risk of developing COPD.

How is COPD diagnosed?

The theme for World COPD Day 2025 is “Short of Breath, Think COPD”. GICOLD says that the aim is to raise awareness of under-diagnosis and misdiagnosis of COPD.

NICE has published a guideline for the diagnosis and management of COPD in adults. This guidance explains that diagnosis “depends on thinking of [COPD] as a cause of breathlessness or cough”. NICE recommends that COPD should be suspected in anyone aged over 35 with a risk factor for COPD and symptoms like breathlessness, chronic cough, regular sputum (phlegm) production, frequent chest infections in the winter or wheezing.

The NHS RightCare Pathway for COPD (PDF) sets out a recommended diagnosis and treatment pathway for patients with COPD in England. This pathway sets out priorities to address the challenge of ensuring early and accurate diagnosis of COPD.

In May 2025, researchers from King’s College London published a report, A matter of life and breath, (PDF) describing the experiences of people with COPD. The report highlighted delays in accurate diagnosis and access to information at the time of diagnosis as key problems to be addressed.

Are there treatments for COPD?

There is no cure for COPD but there some treatments can slow down its progression.

NICE also makes recommendations about the management of COPD, including advice on giving up smoking, prescribing inhalers and other medicines and the use of oxygen therapy, and pulmonary rehabilitation (exercises and education focused on breathing). The government says that a national programme to improve access to pulmonary rehabilitation and the quality of these services is underway.

Further reading

Commons Library, Respiratory health, 8 November 2024

Commons Library, Air quality: policies, proposals and concerns, 14 March 2025

Commons Library, Cold and damp homes, 7 May 2025

Royal College of Physicians, The National Respiratory Audit Programme (NRAP)

Asthma and Lung UK, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease