Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term used for diseases where airflow is limited, including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and some types of bronchiectasis [33383]. COPD is not fully reversible even with treatment, and tends to affect middle-aged and older people.

COPD is the third most common respiratory condition among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people [33151]. It greatly contributes to their burden of disease [33151][33383]. Hospital admissions for COPD are higher for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander than for non-Indigenous Australians [33500]. Recent statistics show that COPD is responsible for two-thirds of respiratory deaths among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people [33151].