World COPD Day: “Living Well with COPD – Everybody, Everywhere”

World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day has been organized by Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) in collaboration with the World Health Organization each year in November. It was initiated in 2002. The goal of World COPD Day is to raise awareness and present new knowledge and novel therapeutic strategies for COPD worldwide.

The 19th annual World COPD Day will take place on November 18, 2020.

Theme

The 2020 theme for World COPD Day is “Living Well with COPD – Everybody, Everywhere”. This year’s aim is to send a positive message to both patients and providers that although COPD does not have a cure, there are many ways to actively live well. 

Facts

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable disease that causes breathlessness, chronic sputum production and cough.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive life-­threatening lung disease that causes breathlessness (initially with exertion) and predisposes to exacerbations and serious illness.
• COPD is currently the 3rd leading cause of death globally and is highly prevalent in low resource countries.
• The primary cause of COPD is exposure to tobacco smoke (either active smoking or second­hand smoke). Other risk factors include exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution and occupational dusts and fumes.

Source of info: GOLD & WHO Fact sheet

• World COPD Day “All Together to End COPD”
• Never Too Early, Never Too Late! #WorldCOPDDay
• The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 Country Profile: Nepal
• The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 #GBDstudy
• World Lung Day 2020: Healthy Lungs for All
• Package of Essential Noncommunicable (PEN) disease interventions in Nepal
• Asthma:Better Air, Better Breathing #WorldAsthmaDay.
• The Nepal NCDI Poverty Commission Report