Imagine coughing day after day. For years, you convince yourself that it is normal—a consequence of getting older, or perhaps it is just the cigarettes or the pollution in the air. But beneath the surface, your lungs are silently deteriorating, and the air does not flow as easily as it used to. Then, one day, you receive a diagnosis you have never heard of: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). And, by the time you learn the name, it is often too late.
COPD is a progressive, life-altering condition with no cure, and it is the third leading cause of death globally. Yet, it can be prevented if only caught in time.
Unlike other major chronic diseases (e.g., heart diseases and diabetes) and cancer, COPD remains shockingly underrecognized by both the public and policymakers. A disease that steals the breath of 36 million Europeans and accounts for 6% of total healthcare spending in the European Union falls off the decision-makers’ radar.
Lung health is at a critical juncture, with COPD representing one of the most significant challenges in public health. Despite this fact, there has been no significant action over the past decade to promote COPD prevention or optimise COPD management and treatment pathways. This report confirms the current situation: the number of individuals living with COPD in Europe has increased, there has been minimal progress in early diagnosis, care, and prevention, and the availability of best practices remains limited and not widely accessible to patients.
The EFA report on minimum standards of care for COPD patients in Europe not only depicts the current situation for COPD patients, but it is also a call to action. To halt COPD, policies must focus on prevention of disease and on prevention of exacerbations and deaths. It is high time to raise the bar for COPD standards of care by prioritising early detection, removing the stigma associated with seeking help, and establishing equitable, high-quality care for everyone affected. Moreover, it is necessary to invest in research to identify biomarkers for very early diagnosis and a cure for COPD.
EFA and our community of members—the patients’ organisations—are ready to stand with policymakers, healthcare providers, and all stakeholders to break the cycle of neglect. We refuse to let smoking-related stigma or lack of awareness hinder early diagnoses and improved care. Together, we can ensure that COPD is no longer a forgotten condition but a central indicator to measure health equity and ultimately improve the sustainability of healthcare systems across Europe.
This report is a powerful tool in the journey to halt COPD. It deep dives into the status of prevention, awareness, and access to care, as well as access to digital health solutions in Europe. It provides a comprehensive and synoptic view of the management of COPD in 19 different countries, thereby facilitating the identification of trends and gaps, as well as national best practices and solutions to improve the patients’ quality of care.
This report would not have been possible without the knowledge and participation of the EFA COPD Working Group, the #EFACommunity of members, and the tireless volunteer patients and representatives who, despite daily COPD struggles, have made this project real. Our gratitude also goes to our partners and corporate sustainable funding partners, whose commitment has laid the foundation for this essential advocacy work. Let us move forward together to ensure that COPD patients in Europe receive the voice, attention, and care they deserve to #KeepBreathing.