Brits have 'limited awareness' of health condition that causes thousands of deaths annually

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a collective term for a group of lung conditions, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

The condition reportedly costs the NHS £2 billion each year to manage and is attributed as the cause of 30,000 deaths annually.

It is estimated that 1.2 million adults in the UK are currently living with COPD, with this number expected to rise by 40 per cent over the next six years.

The condition is associated with factors such as smoking, air pollution, asthma, and even genetics.

But in a survey conducted ahead of World COPD Day (20th November), despite 87 per cent of adults claiming they were aware of COPD, most were unable to identify some of the primary causes.

Gabriel Lambert, a spokesperson for respiratory health technology company TidalSense, which commissioned the survey, said that recognising primary causes can encourage the public to take proactive steps to prevent or manage the disease.

He stated: "Early diagnosis and intervention is crucial for managing COPD and improving quality of life for those affected.

"Greater public awareness could not only drive people to seek medical advice sooner but also lead to healthier habits and potentially reduce the burden on the NHS."

But it was not only causes which respondents were unaware of. The survey indicated that adults were often unaware of the symptoms caused by COPD, and as a result, weren't taking steps to manage the disease.

A quarter were unaware that it can lead to shortness of breath, over half didn't realise it can cause fatigue, and 43 per cent had no clue that sufferers often develop chest infections.

"The findings of this study highlight a critical gap in public understanding of COPD, a disease that affects millions yet remains largely misunderstood," Gabriel added.

"Despite being one of the leading causes of death in the UK, it's clear that a large proportion of the public is unaware of its symptoms or its primary causes.

"This lack of awareness is concerning because it means people are less likely to seek early help or make lifestyle changes that could protect their lung health."

A fifth of those surveyed confessed they would wait a month or longer before seeking treatment for symptoms like breathlessness or a persistent cough.

"This data underscores how urgent it is for us to bring COPD into the public eye in a way that motivates real, lasting action on lung health."