Remember COPD: Not Just Smokers Get Sick

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the third leading cause of death globally and in Poland, yet public awareness remains dangerously low despite affecting millions of citizens.

Understanding COPD and Its Impact

POCHP, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is the third leading cause of death worldwide and in Poland, following cardiovascular diseases and cancers. It claims about 18,000 lives annually. Meanwhile, most Poles cannot even expand the acronym “POCHP,” let alone state the symptoms or causes of this condition. Approximately 2 million people in Poland suffer from it, and about 30 percent of them remain undiagnosed.

Dr. hab. n. med. prof. UM Michał Panek, a specialist in internal medicine and pulmonary diseases as well as a university professor at the Clinic of Internal Medicine, Asthma, and Allergy at the Medical University of Łódź, emphasizes that COPD is one of the most serious civilization diseases of the 21st century.

Causes and Symptoms of COPD

Dr. hab. n. med. prof. UM Michał Panek notes that the condition is chronic, heterogeneous, progressive, and unfortunately irreversible. It leads to the gradual destruction of the airways and lung parenchyma, causing chronic inflammation that progressively narrows the bronchi and destroys the alveoli responsible for gas exchange.

As a result, the lungs lose their capacity, and patients face increasing breathing difficulties every year. The most characteristic symptom is progressive dyspnea accompanied by chronic cough and expectoration, sometimes accompanied by wheezing and chest tightness. Initially, it appears only during major exertion, but eventually progresses to hinder basic daily activities like dressing, climbing stairs, or walking.

Smoking tobacco remains the primary cause, both active and passive. Increasing significance also stems from progressive air pollution, occupational exposure to dusts, gases, and chemicals, past respiratory infections, and genetic factors. COPD develops over many years, remaining unrecognized until lung damage is irreversible.

Diagnosis and Patient Profile

The condition most frequently affects individuals over 40 to 45 years of age, especially long-term smokers. However, around 10 percent of patients have never smoked, proving this is not exclusively a smoker’s disease. The paradox remains that despite its high mortality rank, public awareness is very low, causing patients to seek medical help too late.

There is no typical COPD patient; each requires a personalized evaluation, including technically correct spirometry. Non-smoking patients are frequently misdiagnosed with cardiovascular issues before finally reaching a pulmonologist without prior lung imaging or basic respiratory function tests.

Modern Treatment and Biological Therapies

Treatment is multi-stage, adjusted to the disease’s advancement and biological traits. The foundation remains eliminating risk factors, particularly stopping smoking, alongside protective vaccinations, respiratory rehabilitation, patient education, and treating co-occurring conditions. Pharmacology relies heavily on long-acting bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids for specific phenotypes, and oxygen therapy in advanced stages.

A true breakthrough has arrived with biological therapies targeting the inflammatory mechanisms driven by Type 2 inflammation, particularly for the eosinophilic phenotype estimated to affect 20 to 40 percent of patients. Following GOLD 2026 guidelines, biological drugs successfully block the immune pathways responsible for chronic inflammation, significantly reducing exacerbations, improving lung function, and enhancing quality of life.

Economic Impact and the Polish Network of Biological Therapies

Economists estimate that COPD costs Poland 16 billion PLN, with hospitalizations during exacerbations generating the highest expenses. Investing in early diagnosis, spirometry availability, and modern therapies is the most effective way to reduce these costs and prevent irreversible lung function loss.

To address treatment needs, the Polish Network of Biological Therapies in COPD was established as an initiative by Prof. Michał Panek and Prof. Sebastian Majewski. The clinical-scientific network coordinates through the Medical University of Łódź to build a National Register of Biologically Treated Patients, conduct real-world evidence research, and advance precision medicine.