Worldwide burden of COPD in high- and low-income countries. Part I. The burden of obstructive lung disease (BOLD) initiative.

Abstract

BOLD has estimated the social and economic burden of COPD in 12 countries to date. BOLD and the Proyecto Latinoamericano de Investigación en Obstrucción Pulmonar (the PLATINO study) are developing a growing database of COPD prevalence. Cigarette smoking and age are the most important COPD risk factors, but other risk factors should also be explored.