According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease that results in changes in several different parts of the respiratory system and lungs at the same time.
COPD affects 1 to 4% of all European adults and costs the EU €50 billion every year. Follow our Special Report to learn more about the disease.
-
COPD is on the European Commission’s agenda, EU health chief says
Diagnosis tools like spirometry should be promoted in order to monitor lung systems and prevent the spreading of illness like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the second cause of death worldwide, the EU's Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis told EURACTIV.com.
-
A cough never killed anyone? Chronic lung diseases rank as second largest killer
The idea of a cough being fatal brings up images of coal mining, hollow-cheeked children and Charles Dickens novels. But are we really past the time when a simple cough could kill you?
-
EU’s approach to COPD remains focused on tobacco control
Despite alarming figures, the European Commission does not plan specific targets or a harmonised approach for the prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Instead, it says it will ensure tobacco control policies are properly implemented in the member states.
-
Patients’ leader: Reimbursed anti-smoking programmes are a way to kill COPD
Stricter rules on smoking, reimbursed anti-smoking programmes and smoke-free public places are among the ways to prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from being a public health crisis, says Mikaela Odemyr.
-
Three asks from EFA Patients on World COPD Day
On World COPD Day, Isabel Saraiva, Deputy Director of EFA Member RESPIRA, the Portuguese Association for People with COPD and other Chronic Respiratory Diseases, highlights the minimum standards of care COPD patients need: earlier diagnosis, smoking cessation programmes and pulmonary rehabilitation.
-
Kadenbach MEP: Tobacco warnings should mention chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Progress has been made on tobacco products health warnings but the next round of graphic labelling should also mention the less-known chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which happens to be the second cause of death worldwide, MEP Karin Kadenbach told EURACTIV.com.
-
Life-threatening lung disease: Europe’s ‘unknown’ killer
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease that results in changes in several different parts of the respiratory system and lungs at the same time. But it is far more than just a 'smoker's cough'.