COPD Around the World: The Impact on Patients and Caregivers
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a devastating yet overlooked global health crisis, affecting over 400 million people worldwide.1 Despite its prevalence and severity, this deadly lung disease remains underdiagnosed and misunderstood, compounding the impact on patients and their caregivers.
The Far-Reaching Impact of COPD
While COPD affects the lungs, its impact extends far beyond impaired breathing. The disease touches nearly every aspect of a person’s life, diminishing their physical abilities, emotional well-being, and even social connections. Daily tasks as simple as climbing a flight of stairs can become challenging or impossible, and beloved hobbies may feel out of reach.
Bruno, a former sports director of a volleyball team in Italy, understands the experience firsthand. As a passionate gardener, Bruno was initially fearful after being diagnosed and hospitalized with COPD. “I was afraid of losing these habits,” he said. But thankfully, by making some adaptations, Bruno found the resilience to keep doing what he loves despite the limitations caused by the disease. “I didn’t lose them, but I do them at a different pace.”
The Invisible Burden on Caregivers
The ripple effect of Bruno’s COPD diagnosis was also felt deeply by his loved ones: “The impact of the disease on me is important, but it has also obviously fallen on my children and my wife,” he said, echoing an all-too-common sentiment shared by many patients.
Often, the burden of caregiving falls on family members. In the European Union, as many as 80% of COPD caregivers provide unpaid care, and many of these informal caregivers may be ill-prepared to handle the physical and emotional responsibilities of this role.2
Kazuko, a caregiver in Japan, felt the weight of these obligations while caring for her husband. “As a family member, I had a big responsibility to prevent his COPD exacerbations,” she said. The impact on their lives was so great that Kazuko’s extended family also stepped in to support her and her husband during difficult periods, illustrating the reverberating impact of COPD across entire families.
Global (In)attention on COPD
Despite the wide-reaching global impact of COPD, public awareness of the disease remains alarmingly low. In fact, 45% of people cannot correctly identify COPD as a lung disease, even though it claims more lives each year than breast and lung cancer combined.3 This lack of understanding prolongs time to diagnose, perpetuates stigma, and creates barriers in accessing resources and innovation.
After receiving his diagnosis, Hirokazu, a COPD patient in Japan, discovered even his close family members were unfamiliar with the disease. In response, he decided to join an advocacy group, and now participates in events to raise awareness and challenge misconceptions. “I want to talk about my condition and help others know more,” he said.
The Future of COPD
Encouragingly, the COPD care and innovation landscape is rapidly evolving, offering the potential of new hope for patients and their loved ones.
“Innovation in COPD has come a long way, but we’re really at an inflection point right now,” said Manuela Buxo, Global Franchise Head Immunology at Sanofi. Her message to patients and their caregivers?
Stay positive because we're optimistic that more help, greater support, and continued innovation could be on the horizon in the next years.
Manuela Buxo
Global Franchise Head Immunology
Clearing the Air on COPD
By amplifying awareness and driving continued innovation, we have the opportunity to transform the future of COPD and truly address the unmet needs of the entire community. But this transformation requires changing minds at the local level and the policy level. Both challenges call for increased disease education as well as greater empathy for all those impacted by COPD. If we can clear the air on COPD, we can help create a world where no one faces this disease alone.
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References
- Boers, E., Barrett, M., Su, J. G., et al. (2023). Global Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Through 2050. JAMA Netw Open. 6(12):e2346598. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.46598
- European Commission. (2018). Informal care in Europe - Exploring Formalisation, Availability and Quality. Accessed September 15, 2025.
- Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies (2024). COPD Index. Accessed September 15, 2025.