World COPD Day is organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) in collaboration with health care professionals and COPD patient groups throughout the world. Its aim is to raise awareness about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and improve COPD care throughout the world
Each year GOLD chooses a theme and coordinates preparation and distribution of World COPD Day materials and resources. World COPD Day activities are organized in each country by health care professionals, educators, and members of the public who want to help reduce the burden of COPD.
The first World COPD Day was held in 2002. Each year organizers in more than 50 countries worldwide have carried out activities, making the day one of the world's most important COPD awareness and education events.
World COPD Day 2012
World COPD Day 2012 took place on Wednesday, November 14 around the theme “It’s Not Too Late.” This positive message was chosen to emphasize the meaningful actions people can take to improve their respiratory health, at any stage before or after a COPD diagnosis.
While GOLD’s international materials emphasized the broad slogan “It’s Not Too Late,” individual activity organizers had the opportunity to adapt the slogan in various ways to target specific messages to their audiences. For example--
For people with symptoms who have not been diagnosed:
If you’re short of breath, it’s not too late to ask your doctor about spirometry.
For patients with COPD:
If you have COPD, it’s not too late to live an active life.
For doctors:
If you care for people with COPD, it’s not too late to help your patients breathe better.
As always, you can visit our World COPD in Your Country page to read about all the activities that took place in your area and around the world.
Mark Your Calendar
World COPD Day takes place each year on the second or third Wednesday in November.
World COPD Day 2013: November 20
World COPD Day 2014: November 19
WCD History
Read about the themes and activities of past World COPD Days.
