Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a life-threatening lung disease that interferes with normal breathing – it is more than a “smoker’s cough”. According to the WHO estimates (2004), currently 64 million people have COPD and 3 million people died of COPD. WHO predicts that COPD will become the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2030. Almost 90% of COPD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where effective strategies for prevention and control are not always implemented or accessible.
The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) was developed in response to the globalization of the tobacco epidemic, with the aim to protect billions of people from harmful exposure to tobacco. It is the first global health treaty negotiated by World Health Organization, and has been ratified by more than 167 countries.
WHO also leads the Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD), a voluntary alliance of national and international organizations, institutions, and agencies working towards the common goal of reducing the global burden of chronic respiratory diseases. Its vision is a world where all people breathe freely. GARD focuses specifically on the needs of low- and middle-income countries and vulnerable populations.
Information resources
Recent publications
GOLD (Global initiative of COPD)
COPD predicted to be third leading cause of death in 2030/ World Health Statistics 2008
Publications of the Global Alliance against Respiratory Diseases
Prevention and control of chronic respiratory diseases in low- and middle-income African countries
HQ Publications: Chronic respiratory diseases
Policy documents
GARD Meeting report of 5th General Meeting, 1 - 2 June 2010, Toronto, Canada
Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: report of the Secretary-General
A prioritized research agenda for prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, 1 January 2011
Package of essential noncommunicable (PEN) disease interventions for primary health care in low-resource settings, 3 August 2010
Links
GARD (Global Alliance against Respiratory Diseases)