World COPD Day is organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) in collaboration with health care professionals and COPD patient groups throughout the world. Its aim is to raise awareness, share knowledge, and discuss ways to reduce the burden of COPD worldwide.
Each year GOLD chooses a theme and coordinates preparation and distribution of World COPD Day materials and resources. World COPD Day activities are organized in each country by health care professionals, educators, and members of the public who want to help make an impact locally and worldwide.
The first World COPD Day was held in 2002. Each year organizers in more than 50 countries have carried out activities, making the day one of the world's most important COPD awareness and education events.
The 2023 theme for World COPD Day will be “Breathing is Life - Act Earlier" and takes place on November 15th. This year's theme aims to highlight the importance of early lung health, early diagnosis and early interventions. Keeping lungs healthy is an integral part of future health and it is now more important than ever to act sooner. We now know that there are many other factors besides tobacco smoking that can contribute to COPD and that it can start early in life and effect young individuals. In addition, we have now identified precursor conditions that can provide new opportunities for early diagnosis and prompt treatment. This campaign will focus on highlighting the importance of early lung health and how we can expand the horizon of COPD prevention and treatment by acting earlier. This can include preventing early risk factors, monitoring lung health from birth, diagnosing COPD in a precursor state and providing treatment promptly.
Click here to download this year's World COPD Day graphic in English.
Click here to download a World COPD Day press release.
Click here to download information on the World COPD Day - Big Baton Pass
