NEW YORK — The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) is higher and stages of disease are more advanced than has previously been reported, according to findings from the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease initiative. And contrary to common beliefs, smoking is not the only factor contributing to COPD prevalence, the investigators report in The Lancet. The research group, led by Dr. A. Sonia Buist at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, examined the prevalence of COPD and its risk factors in adults who were at least 40 years old and were living in 12 cities on 5 continents. More than 9,000 subjects were interviewed, and test results were obtained from 8,775. Stage II COPD or higher in 10.1 percent overall, 11.8 percent for men and 8.5 percent for women. The prevalence increased with age, usually affecting fewer than 5 percent of individuals in their 40s — up to 47 percent of men 33 percent of women age 70 and older. The prevalence also varied widely by location, Buist’s group notes. Six sites reported COPD rates of at least 10 percent for stage II to IV disease. The prevalence ranged from 5.9 percent in […]