Epidemiology of COPD Incidence
Worldwide
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a
significant global health issue. In 2010, the global prevalence of COPD
was estimated to be 11.7%, with approximately 384 million people
affected. This represents a notable increase from 227.3 million cases in
1990, indicating a 68.9% rise over two decades. The highest prevalence
was recorded in the Americas at 15.2%, while the lowest was in South
East Asia at 9.7% [1].
USA
In the United States, COPD affects a significant portion of
the population. In 2011, the age-standardized prevalence was reported to
be 6.1%, which slightly decreased to 6.0% by 2021. This relatively
stable trend suggests that the incidence of COPD has plateaued in recent
years [2]. Another study indicated that the prevalence of COPD among
adults aged ≥18 years did not change significantly from 2011 to 2021
[3].