Epidemiology of COPD: Why Is the Disease So Poorly Recognized?

Abstract

COPD is currently ranked third in the cause of death around the world. The habit of smoking cigarettes is obviously related to occurrence of COPD, and many cases of COPD are caused by heavy cigarette smoking. However, besides cigarette smoking, occupational exposure to airborne particulates and pollutants are also known to be risk factors for developing COPD. Particularly, the indoor use of biomass fuel has been pointed out as one of the major risk factors for the occurrence COPD in developing countries. COPD develops after a long period of exposure to cigarette smoke; thus, it is characterized by a gradual progression of symptoms. Many patients are not diagnosed with COPD until their symptoms have considerably worsened or acute exacerbation due to respiratory inflammation. Health damage by COPD has a great impact on society as well as on the individual patient; hence, it is important to make a diagnosis early and prevent patients from exposure to risk factors.