Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is on the rise across the country including the capital;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the lack of awareness is the major reason for increased risk of COPD deaths across the country; and
(d) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)
(a) & (b): According to Indian Council of Medical Research, prevalence of COPD has not changed since 2001. The prevalence was estimated around 5% in males and 2.7% in females aged 30 years and above as per studies available upto 2001. An ICMR sponsored study in 4 centres revealed prevalence of 5% in males and 3.2% in females aged 35 years and above in 2006. In a large ICMR sponsored study in 2012 across 12 urban and 11 rural sites, overall prevalence of Chronic Bronchitis was 4.3% in males and 2.7% in females aged 35 years and above. Prominent risk factors of COPD include smoking, household air pollution and ambient air pollution. Other risk factors include previous Tuberculosis, childhood asthama and respiratory infection.
(c) & (d): Chronic non-communicable diseases are silent diseases and may initially have no symptoms and are thus often ignored by people.
While Health is a State subject, the Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments for improving healthcare. Government of India has launched National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) which is implemented for interventions up to District level under the National Health Mission. NPCDCS has a focus on awareness generation for behaviour and life-style changes, screening and early diagnosis of persons with high level of risk factors and their treatment and referral (if required) to higher facilities for appropriate management for Non-communicable Diseases (NCD).
…