Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) causes ~3.5 million deaths per year, making it the third most fatal, but it kills at only 39% the rate of Stroke (#2). A staggering 90% of COPD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, compared to only 50% for Ischaemic Heart Disease. Smoking remains the primary cause, but growing contributions from air pollution and occupational dust mean slower treatment than for lung infections (#4). With no cure and diagnosis often delayed until 50% of lung function is lost, it has a mortality rate 1.3 times higher than Lower Respiratory Infections.