Trends

COPD trends have shown variable patterns globally. In Norway, a study covering 1995-2008 found a decrease in COPD prevalence among men but stability among women, reflecting the differing impacts of smoking cessation programs and gender-specific smoking trends [6]. In Canada, despite a decline in smoking rates, COPD prevalence increased by 64.8% from 1996 to 2007, with the burden shifting more towards women [7].
In the UK, prevalence rates among men plateaued from the mid-1990s, while rates among women continued to rise, reaching parity with men by the late 1990s [4]. Similarly, in Spain, a significant reduction in COPD prevalence was observed over a decade, dropping from 9.1% in 1997 to 4.5% in 2007, alongside improvements in diagnosis and treatment [8].
Overall, while global COPD prevalence has increased, age-standardized rates in many high-income countries show a plateau or decline, reflecting the complex interplay of aging populations, smoking trends, and healthcare improvements.