The diagnosis of COPD in primary care often relies on infrequent snapshots of a patient's health, resulting in difficulties in achieving a differential diagnosis. Many individuals with COPD remain undiagnosed due to these challenges.

In rural and disadvantaged urban areas, finding a doctor can be challenging, often referred to as medical deserts. Limited appointments, an aging population, and fewer than 2.3 doctors per 1,000 people (WHO, 2020) highlight the pressing need for improved healthcare access.Review Text

With a decline in hospital beds worldwide (2.70 per 1,000 people in 2011), recruitment challenges, service closures, and overloaded emergency departments, there's a growing strain on healthcare infrastructure. Meeting the demands of an evolving healthcare landscape is becoming increasingly challenging

The European respiratory landscape is set to see significant changes, with over 36.5 million Europeans projected to have COPD by 2030. Germany alone is estimated to have 7.9 million COPD patients by 2030, up from 6.8 million in 2010. As the seventh leading global cause of ill-health, COPD's prevalence could rise to the third spot by 2030, underscoring the urgency of effective management.

The aging population is a significant challenge for the healthcare system, as the number of elderly individuals continues to grow. With age, the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer increases substantially. For example, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that by 2050, the global population aged 60 and over will more than double, reaching over 2 billion people, many of whom will require ongoing care for chronic health conditions.