Abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lethal disease. In China, it has the third incidence rate and is also the third leading cause of death. Over the past decades, there is a rapid growth in the prevalence of COPD. The three significant causes are the growth of smoking population, severe air pollution, and the aggravating trend of the aging population. Insufficient clinical application of spirometry is a huge obstacle in the diagnosis and treatment of COPD in China. The reasons for the limited use of spirometry in clinical practice, especially in most primary medical institutions, include poor understanding of the significance of pulmonary function tests, lack of equipment, and financial constraints. Main methods for the prevention of COPD include smoking cessation, control of air pollution, and the promotion of pulmonary function testing.