Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which refers to the coexistence of chronic bronchitis and emphysema in a patient’s body, is on the rise. A recent study has revealed that 1 in 4 people ages 35 and over is likely to develop the disease, according to WebMD Health News.

To put this risk in perspective, respiratory disease specialist Andrea Gershon, who co-authored the study published this week in The Lancet, told the news provider that women carry three times the risk of developing COPD as they do with breast cancer, and men have the same increased risk compared to that of prostate cancer.

This progressive condition causes lung inflammation and impairment, which could be potentially fatal if not treated properly. COPD is most commonly caused by smoking.

“This is a disease that is underreported, but it is still the fourth leading cause of death worldwide and it is projected to be the third cause of death within two decades,” Gershon told the news source.

Taking a look at the records of 13 million adults in various Canadian health registries, researchers studied up to 14 years of data to assess the lifetime risk of developing COPD. For those aged 35 and over, 27 percent had developed the disease by 80 years old. Men were shown to have a higher risk than women, as well as individuals in a lower socioeconomic class.

“The lifetime risk of COPD was comparable to that of diabetes and asthma, roughly double that of developing congestive heart failure, and three to four times greater than the risk of having a heart attack,” said the news outlet.