Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease develops over decades – and we are missing the window to prevent it

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is one of the world’s leading causes of death, responsible for 3.5 million deaths in 2021 alone. It is often thought of as a disease of older smokers. But that picture is too simple. COPD usually develops slowly over many years, often long before symptoms become obvious.

COPD is a long-term lung condition that makes it harder to move air…

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