International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Epidemiology, Etiology, and Demography of COPD: Who, When, and How?

The prevalence of COPD varies by country, age, sex, and genetic susceptibility. The main risk factors for COPD include environmental factors such as indoor and outdoor air pollution, occupational exposure to dust and fumes, and tobacco smoking. In addition, passive smoking in early childhood and intrauterine exposure predispose individuals to develop COPD with age. Environmental risk factors differ in developing countries compared to industrialized countries. Endogenous risk factors for COPD include genetic predisposition, sex and racial differences in susceptibility to COPD, and the presence of respiratory problems in childhood. This Article Collection collects papers on topics including but not limited to epidemiological, translational, and health outcomes research. We invite research exploring the natural history and epidemiology of COPD in various geographic locations around the globe, individual and combined risk factors, sex and racial differences in COPD presentation, and associations with social determinants of health.