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Mortality in COPD: The Role of Comorbidities

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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Part of the book series: Respiratory Medicine ((RM))

Abstract

Although total mortality has decreased dramatically over the past 30 years, driven largely by successful reductions in deaths from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), mortality from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has more than doubled. COPD is currently the 4th leading cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for more than three million deaths per year. Owing to increased prevalence of smoking in developing countries and the aging of the population across Western nations, COPD mortality is expected to more than double over the next 20 years, so that by 2030, it will be responsible for 10% of the world’s total mortality (currently 7%), accounting for seven million deaths annually. Although these figures are truly alarming, they probably underestimate the global impact of COPD on overall mortality, because COPD contributes significantly to other major causes of mortality, such as ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, and lung cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Don D. Sin

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  1. Don D. Sin
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Correspondence to Don D. Sin .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Cent, Chief, Pulmonary and Critical Care, The Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Chalkstone Ave. 830, Providence, 02908, Rhode Island, USA

    Linda Nici

  2. St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Associate Chief, Pulmonary and Critical, University of Connecticut School of Medi, Woodland St. 114, Hartford, 06105, Connecticut, USA

    Richard ZuWallack

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Sin, D.D. (2012). Mortality in COPD: The Role of Comorbidities. In: Nici, L., ZuWallack, R. (eds) Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Respiratory Medicine. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-673-3_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-673-3_1

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