Feshchenko: 7% of Ukrainians suffer from obstructive pulmonary diseases

Author: Elena Nesterenko

Photo: InterMedia consulting

The World chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) day is being observed today.

"According to the last information of WHO, at present nearly 210 million persons suffer from COPD. This disease is the 4th reason of the death rate in the world, however according to prognoses of specialists in 2020 it will be on the third places. In 2005 three million people died from COPD, and it is more than from breast cancer and diabetes put together," Yuri Feshchenko, Chief Phthisiatrician and Pulmonologist of MHU, Director of the Institute of phthisiology and pulmonology named after F.G.Yanovskyi told IMC (InterMedia Consulting).

According to Feshchenko, annually 2.8 million people die from COPD. Besides, COPD is the only disease the prevalence of which grows from year to year.

"For the last 5 years the disease incidence has grown up 163%, while the prevalence of such dangerous illnesses, as ischemia, went down by 59%, and stroke - by 63%. As for reasons, then in 90% of cases the main risk factor is smoking. Polluted air and labour conditions influence greatly of course, but smokers are in the main risk group. Nevertheless, passive smokers are also exposed to this disease, it is known that 30% of COPD cases are non-smoking people," Chief Pulmonologist warns.

As Feshchenko asserts, there is no statistics data in Ukraine, but specialists are inclined to consider that nearly 7% of the population of our country suffer from COPD.

"A feature of the disease is that the disease can develop practically clinically unsuspected. COPD has one of the lowest levels of diagnosis. Nearly 50% cases are not diagnosed in patients worldwide," Feshchenko asserts.

Source: InterMedia consulting