Chronic respiratory diseases

Factsheet

Key Facts

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide, causing 3.4 million deaths in 2023, approximately 6% of all global deaths.
• Nearly 90% of COPD deaths in those under 70 years of age occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
• COPD is the seventh leading cause of poor health worldwide (measured by disability-adjusted life years).
• Tobacco smoking accounts for over 70% of COPD cases in high-income countries. In LMIC tobacco smoking accounts for 30-40% of COPD cases, and household air pollution is a major risk factor.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease causing restricted airflow and breathing problems. It is sometimes called emphysema or chronic bronchitis.

In people with COPD, the lungs can get damaged or clogged with phlegm. Symptoms include cough, sometimes with phlegm, difficulty breathing, wheezing and tiredness.

Smoking and air pollution are the most common causes of COPD. People with COPD are at higher risk of other health problems.

COPD is not curable but symptoms can improve if one avoids smoking and exposure to air pollution and gets vaccines to prevent infections. It can also be treated with medicines, oxygen and pulmonary rehabilitation.

Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) affect the airways and other structures of the lungs altering how one can breathe. Preventable CRDs include asthma and respiratory allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), occupational lung diseases, cancer, sleep apnoea and pulmonary hypertension.

The symptoms of COPD include breathlessness, abnormal amounts of mucus in the airways, and a chronic cough. Daily activities—such as walking or exercising—can become very difficult as the condition gradually worsens. The primary cause of COPD is tobacco smoke.

With asthma, there is inflammation that narrows the airways that carry oxygen to the lungs. This results in asthma symptoms, including coughing, wheezing and chest tightness. Asthma is increasing throughout the African Region, especially among children. Individuals who have schistosomiasis and sickle cell disease have an elevated risk of pulmonary hypertension, or high blood pressure within the lungs. 

The major risk factors for chronic respiratory diseases include tobacco smoke and other forms of indoor air pollution, allergens, household chemicals and outdoor pollution. There is strong evidence associating CRDs with living near roads with heavy traffic. Vehicles such as diesel-fuelled buses and Kombi vans are major sources of pollution in the Region.