Global, Regional, and National Burden of COPD Attributable to Occupational Particulate Matter, Gases, and Fumes, 1990–2019: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Abstract

Background

A study aimed to estimate the burden of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by occupational exposure to particulate matter, gases, and fumes in 204 countries from 1990 to 2019.

Methods

Data on the deaths number, age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR), and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates (ASDR) of COPD attributable to occupational particulate matter, gases, and fumes were collected from the GBD study 2019. We also investigated the association between the ASDR and SDI.

Results

There were 517.7 thousand deaths [95% UI: 413.9 to 634.5] in 2019. The number of deaths increased from 1990 to 2019. The ASMR and ASDR were 6.61 (5.24 to 8.17) and 143.02 (118.56 to 168.69) in 2019, respectively, representing a 46% and 44.5% decrease since 1990. China had the highest number of deaths [200,748.4 (151,897.6 to 260,703.9)], while Nepal had the highest ASMR [39 (27.7 to 50)] and ASDR [724.5 (549 to 894.2)]. Males and females 75–79 and 80–84 years old had the highest number of COPD deaths. A negative correlation was observed when SDI > 0.4, whereas a positive correlation was found when SDI < 0.4.

Conclusion

From 1990 to 2019, there was an increase in the number of deaths, but a decline in ASMR and ASDR globally. Besides, there was a heterogeneous burden of COPD attributable to occupational particulate matter, gases, and fumes across regions and countries. It is important to develop and implement strategies to prevent and reduce the burden of COPD attributable to occupational particulate matter, gases, and fumes.

Keywords:

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• occupational particulate matter
• gases
• fumes
• global burden of disease
• deaths number
• age-standardized rates

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets presented in this study can be found in online database. The names of the database can be found below: https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/.

Ethics Statement

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University in line with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the work of the GBD 2019 collaborators.

Disclosure

The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

Not funded.