Rise in the number of smokers and density of low socio-economic class population due to urban ‘ghettoisation’ has resulted into three-time rise in chronic pulmonary disease cases in Gujarat, say pulmonary experts.
On the eve of the World COPD Day on Wednesday, Ahmedabad Medical Association and Association of Chest Physicians of Gujarat (ACPG) shared their findings with TOI which state that incidence, attacks and severity of Chonic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases has increased three times in the state. Risk factors for COPD are air-pollution levels, tobacco smoking, and unhygienic living conditions that low socio-economic class face due to urbanization.
Dr Narendra Raval, president of ACPG, said, “The steep rise in incidence of chronic lung diseases in the state is linked with rise in number of smokers – both male and female — from upper (cigarette) and lower (bidi) sections of the society in the state. And urbanization (that pulls lower socio-economic zone population from rural areas) linked rising density of population that lives in unhygienic conditions — has prompted the COPD increase.”
COPD is the one of the most alarming health problem that grows with rising air-pollution levels, increase in population and rise in smoking. According to recent research data provided by the association, from 1980 to 2011, the proportion of COPD has increased by 163 per cent.
Dr Raval said, “This disease more quickly affects women who smoke. And with the rise in number of women taking to smoking tobacco, recently about 60 out of 1000 women are found suffering from COPD in Gujarat. The number was 10 per 1000 during 1980s.”
Lung check-up drive for inmates
AMA and ACPG have organized a mega lung check-up drive for 3,500 inmates of Central Jail on Wednesday. To raise awareness on COPD, the World Health Organisation has announced Global initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) message. “To spread the GOLD message, AMA and ACPG have planned alung examination camp for 3,500 central jail inmates. A breathing test would be conducted on inmates with symptoms like shortness of breath and chronic cough, ” said ACPG, president Dr Narendra Raval.
