Study Finds More Men than Women Die From COPD

Men across the Asia-Pacific region have consistently higher mortality and hospitalization rates for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than corresponding rates for women in the region, according to a new study.

Researchers from St. Paul's Hospital (Vancouver, BC, Canada), Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea), and other institutions around the Pacific rim examined data (consistent with standard definitions of COPD) obtained from various national health statistics agencies relating to the period between 1991-2004. For countries or regions with complete national mortality and hospitalization data (Australia, Pacific Canada [i.e., British Columbia], Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan), annual age-standardized mortality and hospitalization rates were calculated for men and women aged 40 years or older. Negative binomial regression modeling was used to estimate rate ratios for country and region, gender, age differences, and general trends over time.

The results showed that mortality rates per 10,000 population ranged 6.4-9.2 in men, 2.1-3.5 in women and 3.7-5.3 overall in 2003. Corresponding ranges for morbidity were 32.6-334.7 in men, 21.2-129 in women, and 28.1-207.3 per 10,000 overall. Trend analysis of data since 1997 produced annual percentage changes in mortality versus hospitalization of −4.4% versus −0.7% in Australia, −3.6% versus 7.5% in Pacific Canada, −7.15% versus −5.6% in Hong Kong, and −2.9% versus −4.2% in Taiwan. The study was published in the January 2009 issue of Respirology.

"The global rise of COPD is particularly dramatic in Asia-Pacific where two recognized risk factors for COPD - tobacco smoking and indoor air pollution - are highly prevalent and are significant contributors to death and disease burden,” said lead author Wan Tan, M.D. "Although there has been some reduction in mortality with the increasing awareness of COPD by health professionals, the COPD mortality and hospitalization rates in Asian countries are still high when compared to western developed countries.”

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St. Paul's Hospital
Seoul National University Hospital