The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a seminar yesterday said the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the major causes of death across the world.

Terming it a major concern of health care, they said COPD is expected to rise to the third position as a cause of death and fifth position as the root of disability by the year 2020.

They also suggested taking proper measures for stemming the fast spreading disease across the world.

Their observation came at the scientific seminar on "Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)" marking the World COPD Day 2008 at National Asthma Centre (NAC) auditorium, NIDCH at Mohakhali in the city.

The seminar was jointly organised by National Institute of Chest Diseases and Hospital (NIDCH), Sanofi- Aventis and Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lunge Disease.

AMM Nasir Uddin, secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was present as chief guest while Dr Duangvadee Sungkhobol, country representative of World Health Organisation (WHO) as special guest.

The speakers laid emphasis on the need for the intervention of pharmacological aspects and rehabilitative programmes to improve the situation.

They also said as per general clinical observation, the prognosis of COPD in the developing countries like Bangladesh is somewhat worse than that in the developed countries of Asia.

Low socio-economic condition, poor diet, environment pollution and childhood infections are not only responsible for the development of COPD but also for continued decline in lung function, disease complications and early morality. They said that in Bangladesh tobacco related smoking remains as the most important risk factor identified as the cause of COPD and chronic respiratory morbidity. The risk morbidity and morality from COPD in the next two decades in the country is directly attributed to the continued increase in tobacco smoking.

As per recent survey there are about 65 lakh COPD patients in the country. Of them 63 per cent are men and 73 per cent Syed AB Tahmeed, head of marketing, Sanofi-Aventis Bangladesh Ltd offered vote of thanks. Prof Md Mostafizur Rahman, Director, NIDCH presided over the seminar. Prof Md Ali Hossain, course coordinator, Department of Respiratory Medicine, NIDCH made welcome speech and Prof Md Rashidul Hassan, Department of Chest Medicine, NIDCH presented the keynote paper on "COPD in Bangladesh: Present scenario and future directions".

Prof Shafiqul Ahsan, Head of Department, Thoracic surgery, NIDCH, Dr Md Wahiduzzaman Bhuiyan, Head of Department, Radiology and Imaging, NIDCH and doctors and health professionals, among others, attended the seminar.