Nearly 570 million people worldwide live with chronic respiratory diseases, while COPD remains the third leading cause of death. In Hungary, estimates suggest that there may be 500,000–600,000 people living with COPD, while in 2025 fewer than 300,000 diagnosed patients received care. The situation is similarly serious in the case of lung cancer: in Hungary, there are 77.9 lung cancer deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, making early detection particularly important.

At our September conference entitled The lungs of the country, together with our experts and key stakeholders from the sector, we explored the domestic and international burden of respiratory diseases, the importance of early diagnosis, modern treatment options and the role of prevention. According to data presented at the event, more than 569 million people worldwide were living with chronic respiratory diseases in 2023, and 4.2 million deaths were attributable to these diseases. A total of 362.7 million people were living with asthma, while 214.6 million were living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. Although the age-standardised mortality rate from chronic respiratory diseases decreased by 25.7 per cent between 1990 and 2023, COPD remains the third leading cause of death worldwide: in 2023, it was responsible for 3.4 million deaths. Forecasts suggest that the number of COPD cases may increase by a further 23 per cent by 2050.

In Hungary, one of the most important challenges is that a significant proportion of patients with COPD do not enter the healthcare system in time. Dr Katalin Szalóki, Director of AIPM, pointed out at our conference that, according to professional estimates, there may be 500,000–600,000 people living with COPD in the country, while in 2025 nearly 300,000 diagnosed patients received care. The number of diagnosed cases has still not returned to pre-pandemic levels following the coronavirus pandemic, while the hospital burden also remains significant: according to international comparisons, the rate of hospital admissions in Hungary due to asthma and COPD was approximately twice the OECD average.

Early detection is also a key issue in the case of lung cancer. According to data presented at the conference, Hungary recorded 77.9 lung cancer deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, which was the highest rate among the countries examined. According to European data, 50–70 per cent of lung cancer cases are diagnosed only at stage four, when survival prospects are already significantly worse. Delays can occur at several points along the patient journey: some patients seek medical attention late, while valuable time may also pass between the first examination, diagnosis and the start of treatment. An important tool for early detection may be targeted screening of high-risk groups using low-dose CT, or LDCT, the potential of which has already been examined in several programmes in Hungary.

Prevention also played a prominent role at our conference. Reducing smoking remains one of the most important priorities, while alongside traditional cigarettes, new types of tobacco and nicotine products require increasing attention. According to our experts, young people need to receive credible information about the harmful effects of these products already at school, while reaching disadvantaged young people is particularly important. Alongside prevention, smoking cessation support should also be strengthened, with appropriate centres and the active involvement of healthcare professionals.

The examples of COPD and lung cancer both show that the earlier a disease can be detected and the patient can be directed into appropriate care, the greater the chance of reducing deterioration, hospital treatment and premature mortality.