PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - B. Lundbäck
AU  - A. Gulsvik
AU  - M. Albers
AU  - P. Bakke
AU  - E. Rönmark
AU  - G. van den Boom
AU  - J. Brøgger
AU  - L‐G. Larsson
AU  - I. Welle
AU  - C. van Weel
AU  - E. Omenaas
TI  - Epidemiological aspects and early detection of chronic obstructive airway diseases in the elderly
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.03.00403103
DP  - 2003 May 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 3s--9s
VI  - 21
IP  - 40 suppl
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/21/40_suppl/3s.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/21/40_suppl/3s.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2003 May 01; 21
AB  - The burdens of chronic obstructive airway diseases among the elderly in Europe, and worldwide, are increasing. Although asthma is common in all ages, the main airway disease affecting the elderly is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this paper is to review the prevalence and incidence of COPD on the basis of population studies. As the prevalence estimates of asthma are probably well known, only the incidence and remission of asthma will be discussed. The underdiagnosis of obstructive airway diseases is huge. A Dutch programme for early detection of obstructive airway disease among the elderly has, thus, been included in the presentation. A prerequisite for fighting COPD is to acquire data on illnesses and death. COPD has only recently been defined by cut-off points of spirometric outcomes, which is why measures of the prevalence of COPD have been distorted by use of a large number of different diagnostic terms and lung function criteria. The prevalence of clinically-relevant COPD has been estimated in several community studies to 4–6% in adult population samples, with a considerable increase by age, particularly among smokers. The incidence of COPD not only increases heavily with age and smoking, but also occupational exposure to dust, gas and damp. Precise estimates of the incidence of COPD or spirometric airflow limitation are not available. Demographic changes will result in a further substantial increase of chronic obstructive airway disorders, mainly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, among the elderly. The increasing burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has to come to the awareness of the public, governments, health authorities, and industry.