Belgium currently ranks 31st out of 34 countries in managing and preventing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to the Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies.
COPD results from inflammation of the airways, leading to airway obstruction and lung damage, which progressively makes breathing difficult.
Smoking is the primary cause of COPD, with about nine out of ten patients being current or former smokers.
In Belgium, more than 800,000 people suffer from COPD, half of whom are unaware of their condition, says the Belgian Lung Foundation (BeLF).
COPD accounts for 5% of deaths in Belgium and is the third leading cause of death after cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
The index from the Danish think tank places Belgium significantly behind its neighbours: France is ninth, the Netherlands is 18th, and Germany is 28th.
Globally, Australia, the United Kingdom and Finland top the rankings. In Europe, only Lithuania ranks lower than Belgium, with China and India far behind.
Belgium's poor ranking is partly due to late diagnosis, according to the Danish institute. Other factors include a lack of cooperation among healthcare providers, low awareness of the disease, and insufficient epidemiological data.
The Belgian Lung Foundation calls for urgent measures at four levels. These include increased awareness, improved diagnosis through widespread spirometry tests, greater focus on prevention, and optimisation of treatment processes.
