IngentaConnect Smoking-related diseases: the importance of COPD

Authors: C. Zaher¹; R. Halbert¹; R. Dubois¹; D. George¹; D. Nonikov²

Source: The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 8, Number 12, December 2004 , pp. 1423-1428(6)

Publisher: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Abstract:

SETTING: Smoking plays a major role in a variety of diseases. Despite a strong relationship between smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease and lung cancer attract greater attention.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the burden of illness produced by smoking.

DESIGN: Smoking-attributable risk (SAR) and smoking-attributable disease burden (mortality, morbidity, and cost) were estimated for four conditions: COPD, coronary heart disease (CHD), lung cancer, and stroke.

RESULTS: Smoking-attributable deaths worldwide were: 1772580 COPD, 1 277000 CHD, 822150 lung cancer, and 788580 stroke. Smoking-attributable disability adjusted life years (DALYs) were: 47232000 COPD, 18106000 CHD, and 11052000 stroke. US smoking-attributable costs were: $26.0 billion CHD, $24.9 billion COPD, and $9.0 billion stroke. US smoking-attributable annual hospitalizations were: 520000 COPD, 460000 CHD, and 183000 stroke.

CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular disease and lung cancer rank high in absolute estimates of disease burden. However, COPD has a more substantial smoking-attributable disease burden. COPD deserves more attention in the health care sector. Smoking cessation programs, pharmacological interruption of the pathophysiology of smoking-related COPD, and effective management of COPD should be key targets of intervention and research.

Keywords: smoking; pulmonary disease; chronic obstructive; COPD; disease burden; attributable risk

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Cerner Health Insights, Beverly Hills, California, USA 2: Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Ingelheim, Germany