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 Management

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Process

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Causes

Types of Inhalers in Pulmonary Disease

History of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Pulmonary Function Tests in COPD Progression Monitoring

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Symptoms

COPD Risk Factors

What are the Differences between Asthma and COPD?

Phenotyping of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Contemporary Topics in Pulmonary Medicine

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Foods That Can Irritate COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Diagnosis

Latest Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease News and Research

Strength training plus cardio cuts type 2 diabetes risk the most

A 20-year prospective cohort study of 143,715 US healthcare professionals found that long-term resistance training was associated with a substantially lower risk of type 2 diabetes. The lowest risk was seen among participants who combined regular resistance training with adequate aerobic activity and limited TV viewing.

23 Jun 2026

COPD patients lack critical health information during major wildfire events

Wildfire smoke can trigger breathing problems and flare-ups for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), yet many people are not receiving the trusted health information they need to stay safe, according to a new study in the May 2026 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, a peer-reviewed, open access journal.

23 Jun 2026

Blood-based indicator assesses organ age to predict disease risk

The candles on your birthday cake don't tell the whole story. As anyone who ever attended a high-school reunion can tell you, some people age faster than others.

15 Jun 2026

Frailty flags poorer blood pressure control in older women

In 1,038 older adults with hypertension attending outpatient clinics in Vietnam, frailty was more common in women than men, while overall rates of suboptimal blood pressure were similar by sex. Frailty was associated with about twice the odds of suboptimal blood pressure in women, but not in men, highlighting the need to study sex-specific and frailty-informed hypertension care.

8 Jun 2026

Blood protein signature can predict lung cancer risk before diagnosis

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and University College London (UCL), funded by Cancer Research UK and the European Research Council (ERC), have identified a 14-protein signature in the blood that can predict lung cancer risk more than five years before diagnosis.

4 Jun 2026

ICU pneumonia mortality rates remain elevated in developing nations

A scientific review published today in the NEJM Evidence journal, coordinated by the D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), evaluated outcomes of adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in middle-income countries.

26 May 2026

Study finds pulmonary rehab empowers children with respiratory issues

New research presented at the 2026 ATS International Conference shows that pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) significantly improves functioning and quality of life in children with chronic respiratory conditions, regardless of whether lung function itself improves.

18 May 2026

Asthma medication formoterol shows promise for treating fatty liver disease

MUSC researchers are tackling MASH, or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, a liver disease affecting hundreds of millions worldwide.

8 May 2026

New initiative aims to tackle bronchiectasis underdiagnosis in America

The American Thoracic Society (ATS) today announced a major quality improvement initiative aimed at tackling the persistent and widespread underdiagnosis of bronchiectasis in the United States.

30 Apr 2026

Phone-based education significantly improves inhaler technique for COPD patients

Guiding people on how to correctly use inhaled medications via a phone-based program can help improve technique, according to a new study in the March 2026 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, a peer-reviewed, open access journal.

29 Apr 2026

Soy-based nutrients may help reduce COPD symptom burden

Higher isoflavone consumption is associated with improved respiratory health in former smokers with COPD, highlighting diet's role in disease management.

28 Apr 2026

Legume and soy consumption may improve COPD symptoms

Consuming legumes and soy-based foods may help improve symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by reducing inflammation and irritation, according to a new study in the March 2026 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, a peer-reviewed, open access journal.

23 Apr 2026

Lab study shows cigarette smoke damaged lung cells more than e-cigarette vapor

Researchers found that cigarette smoke extract disrupted the lung cell barrier, increased IL-6 inflammation, and caused DNA damage in Calu-3 cells, while e-cigarette vapor extract showed no significant adverse effects on these measures under the study conditions. The authors caution that these were in vitro findings using liquid extracts and unflavored e-liquid, so they do not directly predict long-term human health outcomes.

12 Apr 2026

More steps cut chronic disease risk but cannot fully undo long sitting

Research shows higher daily step counts can mitigate risks of chronic diseases linked to prolonged sitting, emphasizing the need to reduce sedentary time.

10 Apr 2026

World Health Day 2026: WHO urges global collaboration and science for better health

The World Health Organization (WHO) today calls on people everywhere to renew their commitment to working together and supporting science as the twin engines driving better health, under the World Health Day 2026 theme: "Together for health. Stand with science."

6 Apr 2026

Breathing in common disinfectant chemicals may be more harmful than oral ingestion

Breathing in common disinfectant chemicals known as quaternary ammonium compounds, or QACs, may be far more harmful than swallowing them, according to a mouse study led by researchers at the University of California, Davis.

30 Mar 2026

GLP-1 medications show mixed effects on body contouring outcomes

For patients undergoing body contouring surgery to remove excess abdominal skin after massive weight loss, use of GLP-1 weight-loss medications may have mixed effects on complication risks, suggests a study in the April issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

26 Mar 2026

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