One in four Ontarians will be diagnosed with COPD

New research done at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) suggests that about one in four Ontarians will be diagnosed and receive medical attention for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during their lifetime.

COPD is the fourth most common cause of death in Canada. In Ontario alone, more than 700,000 adults over the age of 35 live with this disease. And although COPD is one of the most deadly, prevalent, and costly chronic diseases, no comprehensive estimates of the risk of developing COPD in the general population have been published, until now.

"The lifetime risk of physician-diagnosed COPD was 27.6 per cent meaning about one in four individuals are likely to be diagnosed and receive medical attention for COPD during their lifetime. It is clear that clinical evidence-based approaches, public health action, and more research are needed to identify effective strategies to prevent COPD and ensure those with the disease live full, high quality lives," says principal investigator, ICES scientist Dr. Andrea Gershon.

COPD is a chronic, progressive respiratory disease that can be prevented mainly by decreasing the rate of smoking. Once someone has COPD, it is incurable but symptoms and other health outcomes can be improved with treatment.

"COPD has a lifetime risk comparable to diabetes, double that of congestive heart failure; and three to four times that of acute myocardial infarction, breast cancer and prostate cancer," says Gershon, who is also a respirologist at Sunnybrook.

The study will be published in the Sept. 10 issue of Lancet. More detailed study findings at www.ices.on.ca.