World COPD Day, 19 November 2025 - Theme, History and Importance
World COPD Day had been observed every year on the third Wednesday of November for the past 23 years (since 2002). It is a global healthcare event to raise awareness of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), amongst the public around the world. Activities have been held in over 50 countries by various organisations, making this day one of the world's most important COPD awareness and education events.
The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), with health care professionals and COPD patient groups from around the world, have collaborated to organise World COPD Day, an annual event dedicated to raising awareness of COPD through a variety of campaigns and activities aimed at highlighting the importance of education about the disease, and finding solutions to reduce the disease’s global burden.
World COPD Day is celebrated every 3rd Wednesday of November. This year, COPD Awareness Day will be held on November 19, 2025.
World COPD Day 2024 – 20 November (Wednesday)
World COPD Day 2023 - 15 November (Wednesday)
World COPD Day 2022 - 16 November (Wednesday)
World COPD Day 2021 - 17 November (Wednesday)
World COPD Day 2020 - 18 November (Wednesday)
World COPD Day 2019 - 20 November (Wednesday)
World COPD Day 2018 - 21 November (Wednesday)
Importance of World COPD Day
Over the last 3.2 decades, the number of prevalent cases of COPD has increased by 974 lakhs. A study conducted in 2019, assessing public interest in COPD between 2004 and 2018, reported that COPD was highly underrepresented relative to its prevalence and effect on global health. This can be overcome by providing public awareness with regard to the disease, its symptoms and treatment, thereby improving the patient’s quality of life. Awareness of COPD risk factors may also help reduce the disease's prevalence. In addition to this, it raises awareness of the dangers of air pollution.
World COPD Day 2025 Theme
This year, 2025, the World COPD Day theme is "Short of Breath, Think COPD". This theme emphasizes recognizing persistent breathlessness as an early sign of COPD and promotes timely diagnosis, sustainable care, and patient empowerment. Even though COPD is the third most common cause of mortality globally, it is frequently misunderstood or underdiagnosed. It highlights the need for improved access to treatment and holistic support to enhance patient outcomes and quality of life.
Year-by-Year Themes for World COPD Day:
World COPD Day 2024 Theme: Know Your Lung Function
World COPD Day 2023 Theme: Breathing is Life, Act earlier
World COPD Day 2022 Theme: Your Lungs for Life
World COPD Day 2021 Theme: Healthy Lungs - Never More Important
World COPD Day 2020 Theme: Living Well with COPD - Everybody, Everywhere
World COPD Day 2019 Theme: healthy lungs for all
World COPD Day 2018 Theme: Never too Early, Never too Late
PACE Hospitals is one of the Best Hospitals in Hyderabad, dedicated to promoting COPD Day and advancing public health through expert guidance, state-of-the-art diagnostics, personalised treatment plans, and compassionate care.
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