COPD: Smoking's deadly impact on 392 million lives worldwide

The new brief reveals that one of the leading causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a common lung ailment which causes breathing difficulties and claims the lives of over 3 million people every year, is smoking. An estimated 392 million people have COPD and three quarters of them reside in low- and middle-income countries. The primary cause of this disease? Smoking.

Smoking leading cause of COPD

The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies smoking as a major contributor to COPD. In high-income countries, tobacco smoking accounts for over 70% of COPD cases. Meanwhile, in low-and-middle-income countries, tobacco smoking causes 30–40% of COPD cases, with the remainder primarily due to household air pollution.

COPD, a group of diseases that make breathing difficult for the patient, often leads to persistent cough and phlegm. Most people with chronic bronchitis are diagnosed with COPD. As a chronic disease, its symptoms gradually appear over time. The patient’s lung airways shrink in this condition, making breathing difficult and preventing sufficient expulsion of carbon dioxide from the body.

Professor David MG Halpin, a Professor of Respiratory Medicine and a member of the Gold Board of Directors as well as the Forum of International Respiratory Societies, calls for action, stating, “COPD is the leading cause of long-term disability as well as the third leading cause of death worldwide.”

He highlights that COPD, primarily caused by smoking, has become a global issue. Particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where tobacco companies are actively seeking new customers. As a result, 80 percent of the world’s 130 crore smokers or tobacco users live in these regions. He fears that this trend could significantly increase the global burden of COPD in the future.

It is crucial to reduce smoking rates and promote early diagnosis of COPD. Professor Halpin also emphasizes, “Urgent action is needed to ensure that patients around the world have access to effective therapies.”

Passive smoking kills, especially children

Smoking not only harms the smoker’s health but also affects those around them. Research has shown that tobacco smoke significantly affects lung development in children, significantly increasing their chances of developing COPD as they grow up.

The tobacco industry is adopting aggressive marketing strategies to promote nicotine and tobacco-containing products, especially targeting children and adolescents.

You will be surprised to know that nine out of 10 people who smoke become addicted to it even before they turn 18, which takes them closer to their death every day. According to data released by WHO, tobacco is killing one person every four seconds. Meaning it is snatching 80 lakh lives in a year.

Smoking kills 10 lakh people in India every year

Ironically, out of these, 13 lakh are those who do not consume it themselves but still become victims of the smoke generated due to it. This means that despite not using these products themselves, they are forced to indirectly breathe the smoke produced by them.

In India, tobacco consumption also poses a big problem. A study, published in the Lancet journal, reveals that smoking kills 10 lakh people in the country every year. In addition to this, statistics show an approximately 60 percent increase over the last three decades.

“The scale of morbidity and mortality relating to COPD is a huge concern. We must prioritize smoking cessation, as well as inhalers and pulmonary rehabilitation. Sadly, inequities in access to diagnosis and treatment persist. We need to accelerate efforts to integrate COPD care into primary care in low- and middle-income countries where three quarters of people with COPD live.” explains Dr Bente Mikkelsen, WHO Director of Noncommunicable Diseases.

“Now is the time to act. Governments must implement effective tobacco control measures to protect the most vulnerable, particularly children. Protecting our youth and raising awareness about the tobacco industry’s deceptive marketing tactics is a top priority in the global fight against tobacco.” said Dr Ruediger Krech, WHO Director of Health Promotion.

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