Survey suggests over half of patients at high risk of COPD don't know what the disease is

As part of an ongoing project between The Lung Association and pharma company Boehringer Ingelheim, it's estimated that in addition to the 1.6 million Canadians with COPD, there are nearly as many that have the chronic illness but are unaware. A survey conducted for Helping the Missing Million found that among those with a high risk of developing COPD:

• Sixty-five percent experienced COPD symptoms for at least one year before diagnosis;
• Fifty-six percent didn't know what COPD is;
• Forty-four percent had a spirometry test for COPD; and
• Thirty-five percent of those with at least one COPD symptom didn't discuss it with their physician.

The Lung Association says the Helping the Missing Million project will be ready for a full rollout by the spring of 2019.