Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) deaths are increasing annually, yet little or no priority is given to COPD by public health and policy makers in many European countries, according to a survey released to mark World COPD Day 2014.

Results from a new survey looking at the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) across 11 European countries have highlighted continued low public awareness of COPD, despite the condition causing more than 55 times as many deaths as MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus).

COPD is a collection of respiratory in which the airways are restricted, making it difficult to breathe. COPD affects up to one in ten adults of the European population and 64 million people die of COPD globally each year.

Want to learn more? Check out the European COPD coalition website