Factors associated with undiagnosed and overdiagnosed COPD

Worldwide, studies have shown that about 60–86% of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have not been diagnosed, which represents a missed opportunity to decrease disease burden through optimal management, including smoking cessation support and prescription medications. Overdiagnosed COPD is also common, with prevalence estimates ranging from 4% to 64% in the general population and primary care settings. Overdiagnosis can lead to unnecessary COPD treatments with their own risks and costs, poor health-related quality of life and missed detection and treatment of other diseases.