A New Action Alliance Against COPD 

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is both preventable and treatable, but it remains the third leading cause of death worldwide.  

Closing that gap is the mission of a new national coalition, the COPD Action Alliance.  

Amplifying Patients’ Experiences 

Building on the National Institutes of Health’s National Action Plan for COPD from 2017, the coalition encourages greater COPD awareness, appropriate screening and treatment, and policymaker prioritization of the disease. Amplifying the voices of patients living with COPD is also crucial to the strategy of COPD Action Alliance’s stakeholder-centered approach.  

The Damage of a Delayed Diagnosis  

The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is rising worldwide. At least 30 million Americans are affected by the disease, yet only 17 million have been diagnosed. 

By the time a COPD diagnosis occurs, often half of a patient’s lung capacity has already been lost. But once diagnosed, treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can improve lung function and reduce exacerbations.  

As the quality-of-life improvements associated with early treatment continue to expand, the need to identify cases while they are most treatable becomes more urgent. Continued investment in, and advocacy for, COPD research and screenings will ensure the new era of treatment can benefit more patients. 

The Many Faces of COPD 

Identifying and treating cases sooner will also help offset the rising economic impact of the condition, which is expected to reach $60.5 billion by 2029. States like Florida, California and Texas are hardest hit, partly due to older populations, but COPD is also highly prevalent among veterans and rural Americans.  

It’s also rising among never-smokers, who make up 25% of COPD patients. Never-smokers with COPD are likely to have worked in jobs with high particulate matter in the air, including firefighting, military service and heavy industry. Non-cigarette-related COPD, however, remains underrepresented in national health initiatives. 

Collaborating to Curtail COPD’s Harms 

More nationwide and interagency cooperation is needed to fight the rising prevalence, public health impacts and downstream costs associated with COPD.  

Prioritizing the disease in health policy discussions at both the state and federal levels will be an important step. Having policymakers recognize COPD as a public health crisis and take actions to advance care for COPD is crucial to improving patient quality of life and reducing its burden on healthcare systems.   The COPD Action Alliance, launched October 29 ahead of COPD Awareness Month in November, intends to elevate COPD as a public health priority by bringing together stakeholders at both the state and federal level.