Reviews

COPD was identified as the 4th largest cause of death in the U.S. in 1998 in the 2005 report: Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD): Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (based on an April 1998 NHLBI/WHO Workshop and updated in 2005). Report available at:http://goldcopd.com/Guidelineitem.asp?l1=2&l2=1&intId=989. Accessed July 1 2006. http://goldcopd.com/Guidelineitem.asp?l1=2&l2=1&intId=989

According to the GOLD report, the increase in mortality rate for COPD between 1965 and 1998 was 163%, but for congestive heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular disease, it was -59%, -64%, and -35%, respectively.

According to the GOLD report, increase in COPD mortality rate between 1979-993 for men was 17.1%, but for women, it was 126.1%.

National Emphysema/COPD Association (NECA). http://www.necacommunity. org. Accessed July 1 2006. http://www.necacommunity. org

ABC News/USA Today/Stanford Medical Center Poll. Released May 9, 2005. A national survey using a random sample of 1204 adults, with a 3-point margin of error.