The number of people dying from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is rising, despite survival rates improving in several countries, according to an analysis published today.
A report on the global impact of the condition is published today (20 November) in the European Respiratory Journal.
Researchers, led by Dr Joannie Lortet-Tieulent of the World Health Organisation international agency for research on cancer, examined figures from several countries, including many not previously assessed for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mortality rates.
They found that mortality rates fell in most countries between 1995 and 2017, but the total number of COPD deaths increased in many countries.
They state that measures to reduce exposure to risk factors for COPD are having a positive effect.
“In 2015 there were 175 million people living with COPD,” says Dr Lortet-Tieulent. “The burden of COPD continues to be high, but the existing COPD mortality data were based on out-dated statistics from a select number of high-income countries in Europe, Australia, Japan and the USA.“
The new analysis was carried out to update and broaden the statistics to include Latin America, Oceania and parts of Europe. They analysed almost 3.36 million COPD deaths in total from 24 countries worldwide.
The combined death rate for all countries fell by 12% – from 68 deaths per 100,000 people per year in 1995 to 60 deaths per 100,000 people per year in 2017. However, the number of total deaths increased by 12%, from 180,950 to 203,090.
“The data suggests that the proportion of COPD patients who are dying early due to the disease is falling overall and that is very encouraging,” says Dr Lortet-Tieulent. “It means that people may be less exposed to COPD risk factors now and that COPD is being managed more effectively.”
Lortet-Tieulent, J. et al. International trends in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mortality, 1995-2017. European Respiratory Journal 20 November 2019; doi. 10.1183/13993003.01791-2019
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