Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable, progressive respiratory disease, characterized by irreversible airflow limitation and symptoms such as dyspnoea, persistent cough, and sputum production. COPD was the third leading cause of mortality worldwide in 2019 (1), responsible for 3.23 million deaths (2).

Despite the availability of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) recommendations for COPD management (3), there remains uncertainty around how care is currently delivered within individual countries and what barriers exist to the optimal delivery of COPD care. Improved understanding of the common barriers to care delivery could inform international approaches to improving care standards and patient outcomes.

Continue reading →