Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Lead analyst: Julian Flowers
COPD is the fifth biggest killer in the UK, the second most common cause of emergency admission to hospital and one of the most costly inpatient conditions treated by the NHS. It is a general term that is used to describe a number of conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. COPD leads to damaged airways in the lungs, causing them to become narrower and making it harder for air to get in and out. It can be caused by occupational exposure to dust, indoor pollution such as smoke from wood and coal fires, or, in a small number of cases, can be inherited, but its primary cause is smoking.
74,000 people in the East of England are diagnosed with COPD (QOF 2006/07), and there are believed to be many more undiagnosed cases. This page gives an overview of the topic and provides links to relevant organisations and resources.
This topic page groups together the resources we hold on COPD, under the headings shown below. Click on a heading to go directly down to the right place on this page.
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Policy and Guidelines
Regional and Sub Regional Data
National and International Reports and Statistics
Organisations and Links