Lung cancer screening expected to uncover thousands of undiagnosed COPD cases
More than 20% of patients screened could have incidental CT findings indicative of underdiagnosed COPD.
Tens of thousands of COPD cases could be identified incidentally through the National Lung Cancer Screening Program, respiratory physicians say.
The program, launched in July 2025, involves low-dose chest CT scans for asymptomatic patients aged 50-70 with a heavy smoking history — a group also at high risk of COPD.
“Exactly what number [of COPD cases] we will find, we don’t know until we find out, but it should be high,” said Dr Sanjay Ramakrishnan, a respiratory physician with a subspecialist focus on asthma and COPD.
“It should be more than 20% [of patients screened].”
