COPD is the 4th leading cause of death worldwide, yet 75% of those affected remain untreated - this can be changed!
The World Health Organisation estimates 600 million people worldwide have COPD.
COPD is projected to be the third leading cause of death by 2020 with only heart disease and cerebrovascular disease accounting for more deaths. Lung cancer, stomach cancer and HIV will be the 5th, 8th and 9th most common causes of death respectively.
Higher prevalence rates for COPD are found in men than in women globally reflecting historic gender differences in smoking behaviour.
Prevalence figures for COPD are believed to be underestimated. Sufferers tend not to seek medical advice until the disease has progressed and the condition is severe.
Quality of life (QoL) is severely affected in patients with COPD, with 80% of patients hospitalised following an exacerbation reporting a health status rated or quoted by a physician as being 'worse than death'.
An economic analysis of data from a large-scale international survey (in Canada, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, the U.K and the U.SA.), results demonstrated lost productivity due to COPD has a particularly high impact on the economy in France, The Netherlands and the U.K, accounting for 67%, 50% and 41% of overall costs, respectively.