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 2025 theme for World COPD Day is “Short of Breath, Think COPD.” World COPD Day takes place on November 19th. This year’s theme aims to emphasize that although COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide, it is often not diagnosed correctly. COPD is a common, preventable, and treatable disease, but extensive under-diagnosis and misdiagnosis lead to patients receiving no treatment or incorrect treatment. Appropriate earlier diagnosis of COPD can have a very significant public health impact. Earlier diagnosis and treatment results in better clinical outcomes, including improvements in symptoms, lung function and quality of life. A diagnosis of COPD should be considered in any patient who has shortness of breath, chronic cough or sputum production, a history of recurrent lower respiratory infections and/or a history of exposure to risk factors like tobacco, cooking fuels, or occupational hazards.
Click here to download this year’s World COPD Day graphic in English.
Click here for more information on the World COPD Big Baton Pass
Click here to read how people around the world recognized World COPD Day in 2024!
