Know your Lung Function: Indus Hospital and Health Network Marks World COPD Day 2024 with Nationwide Spirometry Initiative

Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN) commemorated World COPD Day 2024 with a network-wide initiative offering spirometry screenings to all staff across its campuses. This effort underscores the organization’s commitment to promoting lung health and raising awareness about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—a preventable and treatable condition that affects millions globally.

COPD, characterized by breathlessness, chronic cough, and sputum production, is a leading cause of death worldwide. COPD can result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors that impact lung health over a lifetime, starting in utero and continuing through childhood and adolescence.  Globally, COPD claims approximately three million lives annually, a figure expected to rise as the world’s population ages and exposure to risk factors continues. In low-resource countries like Pakistan, the prevalence of COPD remains alarmingly high due to risk factors such as tobacco smoke and air pollution.

This year’s World COPD Day theme, “Know Your Lung Function,” emphasizes the critical role of spirometry in diagnosing COPD and monitoring lung health throughout life. Spirometry not only helps in early detection of chronic respiratory diseases but also serves as a general health marker. Even a minor decline in lung function can significantly increase the risk of death from respiratory and non-respiratory causes, highlighting the importance of routine lung function monitoring.

“We have aligned with the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) to raise awareness and promote lung health. Through this year’s theme, we hope to empower individuals and communities to prioritize their lung health, advocate for cleaner air, promote tobacco control, and support access to life-saving diagnostic tools and treatments.”

As IHHN continues its work to advance lung health, it calls on all stakeholders—employers, patients, families, and policymakers—to join the fight against COPD. Together, we can advocate for safer breathing environments, improved access to care, and more investment in research to combat this life-threatening disease