Image of lung

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Explore the burden of COPD and discover practical resources

Explore COPD

COPD prevalence and mortality 

Explore the burden COPD places on the UK population

COPD pathophysiology

Find out how COPD affects the airways and common symptoms

The mechanism of type 2 inflammation

Uncover how type 2 inflammation affects the airways

Recognising COPD exacerbations

Download an infographic on how to identify exacerbations in COPD

Treatable traits of COPD

Watch experts uncover the unmet needs of patients with COPD

COPD prevalence and mortality

COPD is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.1–5
It affects around 3 million people in the UK, with 2 million of these being undiagnosed.1

Between 2007–2016 in the UK, COPD was responsible for 28,600 deaths and was the second largest cause of emergency admissions.1

Associated with a severe socioeconomic burden, COPD costs the NHS £1.9 billion6 each year, a cost driven by exacerbations and hospitalisation in those with uncontrolled disease and loss of work and productivity.5

In England, this cost is expected to rise to £2.3 billion by 2030.7

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Image of COPD burden in UK and globally
Image of healthy vs COPD lungs image

COPD pathophysiology

COPD is characterised by inflammation of the respiratory tract, leading to chronic respiratory symptoms caused by abnormalities of the airways (bronchitis/bronchiolitis) and/or alveoli (emphysema), and persistent airflow obstruction.8

Exacerbations are also a common characteristic of COPD and are often associated with type 2 inflammation,9–12 although exacerbations are frequently underreported.13 Type 2 inflammation is associated with higher risk of COPD exacerbations, decline in lung function, and increased hospitalisation risk.9–12

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The mechanism of type 2 inflammation

Type 2 inflammation is seen in a variety of inflammatory diseases, including COPD.14–19

IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and TSLP are implicated in various aspects of airway inflammation and remodelling in COPD.14,17,19

For example, IL-4 and IL-13 contribute to epithelial barrier dysfunction, airway remodelling, and fibrosis, while IL-5 is involved in mucus plug formation and eosinophil recruitment.16,18,19

IL-13 and TSLP are also associated with excessive mucus production.15,16,18

Review the diagram below to understand how type 2 inflammation works, and the common interleukins involved.

Image describing type 2 inflammatory pathways

CRTh2, chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on Th2 cells; GATA3, GATA binding protein 3; IgE, immunoglobulin E; IL, interleukin; IL-5 Ra, interleukin-5 receptor subunit alpha; ILC2, group 2 innate lymphoid cell; Th2, T helper 2; TSLP, thymic stromal lymphopoietin.

Recognising COPD exacerbations: Long-term damaging effects and risk factors

A multitude of factors increase risk of exacerbations. Find out more about how to identify COPD exacerbations in this handy infographic.

Download the infographic

Treatable Traits of COPD

Given the wide variability among COPD patients, the Treatable Traits approach offers a way to individualise management by identifying and targeting specific, measurable factors that contribute to disease burden and outcomes.20 Encouraging patients to report changes and any worsening symptoms can also improve their awareness of exacerbations, which can help reduce the burden of COPD on their lives.21,22

Enough is enough: The patient burden of COPD

Listen to Laura Rush, an independent Primary Care Nurse specialising in respiratory care and Respiratory Champion for her local PCN, as she as she explores the factors contributing to patients’ disease burden in COPD

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Why Treatable Traits in airway diseases?

Listen to Professor Alvar Agustí, Senior Consultant at The Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, and Chairman of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), as he describes the Treatable Traits approach to COPD and how it can help address patients’ unmet needs

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Speakers

  • Laura Rush

    Laura Rush is a Respiratory Specialist Practice Nurse Lead and independent Respiratory Nurse Specialist in Somerset. She is also the Respiratory Champion in her local PCN and sits on the Association of Respiratory Nurse Specialists (ARNS) Education and Research subcommittee and is a core member of the Asthma Right Care team.

    A large part of her clinical role involves the diagnosis and management of complex patients with respiratory conditions with the aim of providing accurate and timely diagnosis, management in line with best practice, and reducing referrals to secondary care. She runs her own respiratory training company, LR Respiratory Training & Consultancy, delivering education nationally as well as working with many CCGs and PCNs.

  • Professor Alvar Agustí is Professor of Medicine at the University of Barcelona and Senior Consultant at Hospital Clinic, Barcelona. His main research interest relates to clinical and translational research in chronic airway diseases. He has published more than 500 papers in peer-reviewed journals (H-Index 105) and holds a seat at the Royal Academy of Medicine of the Balearic Islands, the Royal Academy of Medicine of Catalonia, as well as the Academia Europea.

    Professor Agustí is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (FRCP), a Fellow of the European Respiratory Society (FERS), Honorary member of ERS, and current Chair of the Board of Directors of GOLD. He has also received the Lilly Award 2018 for excellence in clinical research.

The role of type 2 inflammation in severe asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP)

Explore type 2 inflammation in severe asthma and CRSwNP and access educational resources.

Type 2 inflammation in severe asthma

Abbreviations

CCG, clinical commissioning group; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CRSwNP, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps; GOLD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; IL, interleukin; PCN, Primary Care Network; TSLP, thymic stromal lymphopoietin.

References

  1. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: prevalence and incidence. Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/background-information/prevalence-incidence/. Accessed November 2025.
  2. World Health Organization. The top 10 causes of death. Published August 7, 2024. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death. Accessed November 2025.
  3. Safiri S, et al. BMJ. 2022;378:e069679.
  4. GBD 2019 Diseases and Injuries Collaborators. Lancet. 2020;396:1204–1222.
  5. Gutiérrez Villegas C, et al. Health Econ Rev. 2021;11:31.
  6. NHS England. Respiratory high impact interventions. Published December 1, 2022. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/prevention/secondary-prevention/respiratory-high-impact-interventions/. Accessed November 2025.
  7. Alwafi H, et al. BMC Pulm Med 2023;23(1):49.
  8. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 2025. Available at: https://goldcopd.org/2025-gold-report/. Accessed November 2025.
  9. Yun JH, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2018;141:2037–2047.
  10. Singh D, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2022;206:17–24.
  11. Tashkin DP, et al. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2018;13:335–349.
  12. Hegewald MJ, et al. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2020;15:2629–2641.
  13. Langsetmo L, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2008;177(4):396–401.
  14. Gu S, et al. Front Immunol. 2024;15:1436437.
  15. Russell RJ, et al. Eur Respir J. 2024;63(4):2301397.
  16. Maspero J, et al. ERJ Open Res. 2022;8(3):00576–2021.
  17. Carlier FM, et al. Front Physiol. 2021;12:691227.
  18. Raby KL, et al. Front Immunol. 2023;14:1201658.
  19. Narendra DK, et al. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2019;14:1045–1051.
  20. Cardoso J, et al. Int J COPD 2021;16:3167–3182.
  21. Jones P, et al. COPD: J COPD 2024;21(1):2316594.
  22. Hurst JR, et al. Eur J Intern Med 2020;73:1–6.

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November 2025 | NP-GB-CPU-WCNT-250025 (V1.0)