World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to chronic bronchitis and emphysema, a pair of two commonly co-existing diseases of the lungs in which the airways become narrowed. This leads to a limitation of the flow of air to and from the lungs causing shortness of breath. In contrast to asthma, the limitation of airflow is poorly reversible and usually gets progressively worse over time. COPD is caused by noxious particles or gas, most commonly from tobacco smoking, which triggers an abnormal inflammatory response in the lung. Worldwide, COPD ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in 1990. It is projected to be the fourth leading cause of death worldwide by 2030 due to an increase in smoking rates and demographic changes in many countries. COPD is the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S., and the economic burden of COPD in the U.S. in 2007 was $42.6 billion in health care costs and lost productivity. About 210 million people have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to the 2007 WHO estimates. COPD Day is a global effort to boost people’s understanding of COPD and advocate for better care for patients. It is annually held the second or third Wednesday of November.

History -  In 1998, in an effort to bring more attention to COPD, its management, and its prevention, a committed group of scientists encouraged the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the World Health Organization to form the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). Among the important objectives of GOLD are to increase awareness of COPD and to help the millions of people who suffer from this disease and die prematurely from it or its complications. The first World COPD Day was held in 2002. Each year organizers in more than 50 countries worldwide participate in the day. GOLD works with organizations such as the WHO, to promote World COPD Day.

Events - Various health care organizations, educators, government agencies, and patient groups worldwide work together to promote World COPD Day on the second or third Wednesday of November each year.  

Activities include:

• Educational evenings for COPD patients and the general public.
• COPD Care Days involving scheduled appointments and counselling sessions.
• Openings for COPD education or health clinics.
• Free pulmonary function tests.
• Outpatient education sessions on quitting smoking.
• Talk show radio programs on dealing with COPD.
• Bus tours that local physicians organize to bring COPD education and management in remote areas.

Symbols - The World COPD Day logo is featured in promotional material for the event. It features a figure of a person, with arms stretched out and the figure’s lungs highlighted, in front of a globe. The inside of the globe is blue and marked by grids and the globe’s outer part is highlighted in red. The words “World COPD Day” are written on the right side of the image of the figure and globe. A straight, black vertical line marks a fine separation between the image and the text.

Themes - The theme of the event World COPD Day 2009 was "Breathless not Helpless!" This positive message emphasized that effective treatments are available to help people who have been diagnosed with COPD feel better and live more active lives, and raised awareness that breathlessness is not just an inevitable part of getting older. In addition to the "Breathless not Helpless!" theme, this year some organizers began to develop sub-themes such as Early Diagnosis, COPD and Women, COPD and Smoking, and Preventing Exacerbations. Others addressed the ongoing story of the H1N1 influenza virus, which, as a respiratory infection, has particular import for COPD patients.

Alternate Name - World COPD Day

Holiday Status - It not a public holiday.