COPD has long-term effects, could be fatal, warn experts

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the third largest killer worldwide after heart ailments and cancer, said physicians during a discussion held here on Tuesday amid concerns that many people mistake their increased breathlessness and coughing as a normal part of aging.

In the early stages of the disease, you may not notice the symptoms and COPD can develop for years without noticeable shortness of breath, said Dr Sonal, pulmonologist at Livasa Hospital here.

She added that one is able to see the symptoms in the more advanced stages of the disease as COPD is a progressive form of lung disease ranging from mild to severe.

It affects nearly 63 million people in India, which is about 32 per cent of the world’s COPD population, she pointed out.

Dr Suresh Kumar Goyal, senior pulmonologist, said, “COPD causes more deaths than AIDS, TB, malaria and diabetes, all put together. Its prevalence is around 5.5 per cent to 7.55 per cent in India. Recent studies suggest the prevalence rate of COPD in males is as high as 22 per cent and 19 per cent in women.”

COPD is an incurable and progressive condition, which causes inflammation in airways in lungs and destroys air sacs.

The long-term effects of COPD result in an enlargement of the right side of the heart and eventual death, maintained Dr Ranjeet Kumar, consultant, internal medicine.

Smoking accounts for 46 per cent of COPD cases followed by outdoor and indoor pollution which account for 21 per cent of COPD cases with occupational exposure to gases and fumes accounting for 16 per cent cases, said Dr Jagpal Pandher, consultant, internal medicine.