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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 Jul 16;22(1):273.
doi: 10.1186/s12890-022-02067-y.

Prevalence and incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Juan J Olortegui-Rodriguez  1 , David R Soriano-Moreno  2 , Alejandro Benites-Bullón  1 , Pilar P Pelayo-Luis  1 , Jorge Huaringa-Marcelo  3   4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Prevalence and incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Juan J Olortegui-Rodriguez et al. BMC Pulm Med. .

Abstract

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its epidemiology in Latin America and the Caribbean is not well described. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and incidence of COPD in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Methods: We searched systematically in Web of Science (WoS)/Core Collection, WoS/MEDLINE, WoS/Scielo, Scopus, PubMed, and Embase from 2010 to 2021. Studies assessing the prevalence and incidence of COPD according to the GOLD classification were included. The overall prevalence of COPD was calculated as a function of the general population using a random-effects model.

Results: 20 studies (19 cross-sectional and 1 cohort) met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of COPD in the general population older than 35 years was 8.9%. The prevalence in men was 13.7% and in women 6.7%. The prevalence in smokers and ex-smokers was 24.3%. The incidence in the general population of COPD according to one study was 3.4% at 9 years of follow-up.

Conclusions: COPD is prevalent in Latin America, especially in men and in smokers and ex-smokers. Further prevalence and incidence studies in the general population are needed, as well as health policies and strategies to address the disease.

Keywords: Caribbean region; Epidemiology; Incidence; Latin America; Prevalence; Pulmonary disease, Chronic obstructive.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram summarizing the process of literature search and selection
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the general population of Latin America and the Caribbean
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the general population of Latin America and the Caribbean countries
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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