India: A new study published in theArchives of Public Healthsheds light on the growing burden of chronic lung diseases—AsthmaandChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)—among India’s middle-aged andelderlypopulations. Conducted by Aditi Chakraborty and colleagues from the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, the study reveals how social, individual, and household factors influence the prevalence of these conditions and their association with age-related health complications. Using data from the first wave of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), the research offers the first nationally representative estimates of Asthma and COPD among individuals aged 45 years and above. The findings indicate that 4.38% of the surveyed population reported Asthma, while 2.1% had COPD. The study revealed the following findings: “The research highlights the dual burden of chronic respiratory diseases and functional impairments in India’s ageing population,” the authors note. They call for an integrated healthcare approach that addresses both respiratory health and age-related syndromes. Despite its insights, the study acknowledges limitations, including its reliance on self-reported data and its cross-sectional nature, which limit causal inference. The authors recommend future studies using longitudinal data and clinical diagnostics to better understand these associations over time. "The study emphasizes the urgent need for targeted public health strategies that combine respiratory care with geriatric support. Strengthening health education, improving access to age- and gender-sensitive healthcare, enhancing diagnostic services, and mitigating household risk factors like indoor pollution and tobacco exposure are vital steps toward promoting healthy ageing in India," the authors concluded. Chakraborty, A., Yadav, S. & Kumar, A.H.S.A. Chronic lung diseases (Asthma and COPD) among middle-aged and older populations in India: social, individual, and household determinants and their associations with geriatric syndromes. Arch Public Health 83, 186 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-025-01675-4