COPD in China higher than first thought

GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in those over the age of 40 is much more prevalent in China than previously believed, a study found.

The study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, found 8.2 percent of respondents over age 40 met the criteria for COPD. Men were twice as likely to have COPD compared to women.

Smoking is a significant risk factor for COPD in China -- 24 percent of the females in the study with COPD were smokers compared to 82 percent of males, suggesting that women’s risk might be more strongly associated with the use of biomass fuels, especially for cooking in poorly ventilated areas, lead researcher Dr. Nanshan Zhong, of the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases at The First Affiliated Hospital in Guangzhou Medical College, said.

"Although China has experienced remarkable modernization over the past two decades, in many rural areas residents continue to use wood, charcoal or coal for fuel, leading to significant biomass exposure, especially in women, who perform most of the cooking duties," Dr. Don D. Sin and Dr. Wan Tan of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, wrote in an accompanying editorial.

COPD accounts for 1 million deaths and 5 million disabilities each year in China, the World Health Organization estimated.