Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has described Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) as a global epidemic; an estimated 210 million people have COPD worldwide and more than 3 million people died of the condition in 2005, which is equal to 5% of all deaths globally that year. Total deaths from COPD are projected to increase by more than 30% in the next 10 years without interventions to cut risks, particularly exposure to tobacco smoke.

What is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an assortment of lung disorders that includes...

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Diagnosis

What are the Differences between Asthma and COPD?

Contemporary Topics in Pulmonary Medicine

History of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Causes

Foods That Can Irritate COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Process

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Symptoms

Phenotyping of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Management

COPD Risk Factors

See more featured articles »

Pulmonary Function Tests in COPD Progression Monitoring

Types of Inhalers in Pulmonary Disease

Latest Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease News and Research

Breast cancer cells exploit the lung's repair system to support tumor growth

Researchers at the CU Anschutz Cancer Center have discovered how breast cancer cells that spread to the lungs may take advantage of the body's natural healing response and how a commonly used drug might slow that process.

25 Mar 2026

Study sheds new light on the link between cholesterol levels and mortality risks

A recent study published in Engineering has shed new light on the relationship between cholesterol levels and mortality risks.

10 Mar 2026

Nonadherence to COPD medication increases hospital admissions and mortality

Medication nonadherence among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a result of affordability and lack of knowledge about medications, among other factors, and leads to increased exacerbations and faster lung function decline, according to two new studies.

4 Mar 2026

High-dose curcumin fails to produce lasting gut microbiome changes in IBD patients

In an open-label study of 29 men, including patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease in remission, 6 g per day of curcumin for eight weeks led to modest, transient shifts in gut microbiota composition without sustained restructuring. Despite achieving high fecal concentrations and minimal systemic bioavailability, curcumin did not produce durable microbiome changes, and disease activity scores remained stable.

2 Mar 2026

COVID-19 ARDS survivors face lasting disability and high late mortality, researchers report

In this single-center ambispective cohort of 283 Polish patients with COVID-19–related ARDS requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, cumulative mortality reached 44.5% at four years after ICU admission. Among survivors, substantial proportions reported persistent functional limitations, insomnia, fatigue, and reduced quality-adjusted life years.

2 Mar 2026

Sustainable inhalers offer better outcomes for COPD patients

26 Feb 2026

UCLA Health finds eco-friendly inhalers improve COPD outcomes

New research from UCLA Health suggests that certain inhalers used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are not only less harmful to the environment but can also lead to slightly better patient outcomes. Inhalers are essential therapies for COPD and other lung conditions, but many commonly used devices rely on propellants that are potent greenhouse gases.

23 Feb 2026

Research shows the effect of losing weight in preventing multiple diseases

Researchers have quantified the role of obesity in common long-term conditions, showing for the first time the effect of losing weight in preventing multiple diseases.

4 Feb 2026

Repeated exposure to aged vape plumes could negatively impact lung health

Electronic cigarettes - or vapes - can release puffs of vapor in aromatic clouds. The health risks of breathing in this secondhand or passive vapor aren't fully understood.

30 Jan 2026

Nitrate source matters more than nitrate amount

Findings suggest that plant-sourced nitrates may reduce dementia risk, while animal and water sources are linked to increased risk, emphasizing diet quality.

29 Jan 2026

Pandemic linked to lasting drops in diagnosis rates for major conditions

There has been a lasting and disproportionate impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on diagnosis rates for conditions including depression, asthma and osteoporosis.

21 Jan 2026

Simple blood test maps hidden Alzheimer’s disease changes

This population-based study used plasma pTau217 to estimate how common Alzheimer’s disease neuropathological changes are across age and cognitive status in a Norwegian community cohort. Prevalence rose steeply with age and was strongly associated with APOE ε4 genotype, education level, and kidney function, with implications for future use of blood biomarkers in clinical practice.

21 Dec 2025

Smoke from Canadian wildfires linked to worse asthma symptoms in children

New research from the University of Vermont reveals exposure to smoke from Canadian wildfires in the summer of 2023 led to worsening asthma symptoms in children in Vermont and upstate New York.

11 Dec 2025

Wheelchair? Hearing aids? Yes. ‘Disabled?' No way.

In her house in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Barbara Meade said, "there are walkers and wheelchairs and oxygen and cannulas all over the place."

11 Dec 2025

They need a ventilator to stay alive. Getting one can be a nightmare.

On vacation in Mexico last year, Michael DiPlacido passed out twice while scuba diving and again in his hotel. Back in St. Louis, doctors diagnosed him with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, an incurable disease that often requires mechanical ventilation.

2 Dec 2025

Hospital-level care at home found to be feasible for rural patients with acute conditions

One in five people in the United States live in a rural area. Patients in rural communities often struggle to access care because of travel difficulties, high costs and limited resources, leading to worse medical outcomes.

1 Dec 2025

Dysfunctional breathing is common and influenced by tobacco use and respiratory conditions

Dysfunctional breathing (DB) is frequently misdiagnosed or insufficiently treated, leading to a diminished quality of life and unnecessary medical intervention.

25 Nov 2025

Death risk found to be six times higher among hospitalized patients with dyspnea

The risk of dying is six times higher among patients who become short of breath after being admitted to hospital, according to research published today (Monday) in ERJ Open Research. Patients who were in pain were not more likely to die.

10 Nov 2025

New tool reveals hidden psychological reasons behind patients ignoring medication plans

A pioneering patient-reported outcome tool, developed by healthcare company Observia with the support of Kingston University, has shown significant promise in predicting the risk of a patient with chronic conditions not following their treatment plan, while also uncovering the deep psychological and social reasons driving the patient's decision making.

5 Nov 2025

The nation’s largest food aid program is about to see cuts. Here’s what you should know.

The Trump administration's overhaul of the nation's largest food assistance program will cause millions of people to lose benefits, strain state budgets, and pressure the nation's food supply chain, all while likely hindering the goals of the administration's "Make America Healthy Again" platform, according to researchers and former federal officials.

31 Oct 2025