Asthma, COPD Contribute Significantly to the Global Burden of Disease

Asthma was the most prevalent chronic respiratory disease worldwide in 2015, according to a recent review of data collected by the Global Burden of Disease Study. However, although there were twice as many cases of asthma than chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) worldwide, 8 times more deaths occurred due to COPD than asthma.

COPD and asthma are common diseases worldwide. To further explore their prevalence, mortality rate, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with asthma and COPD, the researchers assessed findings from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) 2015 study.
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In their analysis, the researchers evaluated data obtained through the vital registration verbal autopsy for the aggregate category of all chronic respiratory diseases. Next, rates of asthma and COPD in countries with incomplete or no vital registration data were predicted via models relying on covariates. Disease estimates for COPD and asthma were calculated based on data in systematic reviews of published papers, unpublished reports, surveys, and health service encounter data from the United States.

Results indicated that 3.2 million people had died from COPD worldwide, reflecting an increase of 11.6% since 1990. Additionally, the researchers found that the age-standardized death rate decreased by 41.9%. However, this was offset by population growth and aging of the worldwide population. The prevalence of COPD increased by 44.2% from 1990 to 2015, while age-standardized prevalence decreased by 14.7%.

A total of 0.40 million people died from asthma in 2015, reflecting a 26.7% decrease since 1990, whereas the age-standardized death rate decreased by 58.8%. Overall, the prevalence of asthma increased by 12.6%, and the age-standardized prevalence decreased by 17.7%.

Ultimately, the researchers found that the main risk factors for COPD were smoking and ambient particulate matter, followed by household air pollution, occupational particulates, ozone, and secondhand smoke. These combined risks explained 73.3% of DALYs due to COPD, while smoking and occupational asthmagens explained for 16.5% of DALYs due to asthma.

“In 2015, COPD caused 2.6% of global DALYs and asthma 1.1% of global DALYs,” the report concluded. “Comparisons between countries and over time are important, as much of the chronic respiratory burden is either preventable or treatable with affordable interventions.”

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Soriano JB, Abajobir AA, Abate KH; GBD 2015 Chronic Respiratory Disease Collaborators. Global, regional, and national deaths, prevalence, disability-adjusted life years, and years lived with disability for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015 [Published online August 16, 2017]. Lancet Respir Med. doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(17)30293-X.