INTRODUCTION
Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause of chronic morbidity and
mortality throughout the world. Many people suffer from this disease for years
and die prematurely from it or its complications. COPD is the fourth leading cause
of death in the world, and further increases in its prevalence and mortality
can be predicted in the coming decades.
In United States approximately 14.2 million
people have COPD.Since 1982, the patients diagnosed with COPD increased by
41.5%. Researchers estimate the prevalence of chronic airflow obstruction in
the United States as 8-17% for men and 10-19% for women. The prevalence rates
increased in women by 30% in the last decade.
Mortality/Morbidity
Absolute
mortality rates for US patients aged 55-84 years (1985) were 200 per 100,000
males and 80 per 100,000 females. Internationally, a marked variation in
overall mortality rates from COPD exists. The extremes are the more than 400
deaths per 100,000 males aged 65-74 years in Romania and the fewer than 100
deaths per 100,000 in Japan.
