Epidemiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a descriptive study in the mid-western region of Nepal

April 11, 2012 · 0 comments

International Journal of COPD 2012:7 253–257

Epidemiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a descriptive study in the mid-western region of  Nepal

Ramjee Bhandari

In Nepal, COPD accounts for 43% of the noncommunicable disease burden, and 2.56% of hospitalizations. Though tobacco smoking is established as the primary cause of COPD, indoor air pollution from biomass and/or traditional fuels is estimated to be associated with 0.4 million deaths from acute symptoms of COPD.

Studies have shown that smokers in Nepal have a 70% greater chance of developing COPD. In Nepal, more than 85% of households (98% in rural areas) still rely on biomass fuel. Nepalese women are at higher risk of developing COPD through exposure to indoor air pollution; additionally, about 15% of women also smoke tobacco.

Bookmark and Share

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post: