Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a growing global health problem. Each year more than 3.5 million people die from COPD, and it is now one of the top causes of death worldwide.
About 90 per cent of COPD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. In these places diagnostic tests are limited, specialist care is scarce and people often cannot get recommended combination inhalers because they are unavailable or too expensive. Primary healthcare is often overstretched.
Major risk factors include smoking and air pollution, including indoor pollution from cooking with wood or biomass. WHO will issue updated guidelines next year with input from experts in low- and middle-income countries.
Difficult words
- chronic — lasting a long time, not short
- pulmonary — related to the lungs and breathing
- diagnostic — used to find or identify a medical problem
- specialist — a doctor with extra training in one area
- inhaler — a device people breathe medicine frominhalers
- pollution — dirty or harmful substances in the air or water
- biomass — plant or wood material used for fuel
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you think air pollution is a problem where you live? Why or why not?
- What problems do people face getting healthcare in low-income places?
- Have you or someone you know used an inhaler? What was it like?
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