Health status : 27(a). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): self-reported prevalence (I) -

Proportion of individuals reporting to have ever been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to have been affected by this condition during the past 12 months.

Calculation

Proportion of individuals reporting to have ever been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to have been affected by this condition during the past 12 months, derived from European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) questions HS.4/5/6: HS.4: Do you have or have you ever had any of the following diseases or conditions? 2. Chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema (yes / no). If yes: HS.5: Was this disease/condition diagnosed by a medical doctor? (yes / no). HS.6: Have you had this disease/condition in the past 12 months? (yes / no). EHIS data will not be age standardized.

Relevant dimensions and subgroups

Country
Calendar year
Sex
Age group (15-64, 65+)
Socio-economic status (educational level. ISCED 3 aggregated groups: 0-2; 3+4; 5+6)

Preferred data type and data source

Preferred data type

HIS

Preferred data source

Eurostat (EHIS)

Data availability

BE, BG, CZ, DE, EE, EL, ES, FR, IT, CY, LV, HU, MT, AT, PL, RO, SI, SK, CH, NO and TR conducted a first wave of EHIS between 2006 and 2010. It is noted that not in all of these countries a full scale survey was carried out; in some only specific modules were applied, in others the full questionnaire was applied in a small pilot sample. It is expected that all EU Member States will conduct EHIS in the second wave, which is planned for 2014. The results of the first wave are expected to be published in two stages, 11 countries in October 2010, the remaining countries in April 2011. EHIS data are available by sex, 8 age groups (15-24/25-34/35-44/45-54/55-64/65-74/75-84/85+) and ISCED groups.

Data periodicity

EHIS will be conducted once every 5 years. The first wave took place in 2007/2010 (with some derogations in 2006) and the second wave is planned for 2014.

Rationale

COPD is a high-burden disease causing disability and impairing quality of life, as well as generating high costs. COPD is among the leading causes of chronic morbidity and mortality in the EU. Prevention is partly possible and treatment can be quite effective. Smoking is the major risk factor for COPD.

Remarks

According to current plans, Eurostat will probably not age-standardize EHIS data. For comparability reasons ECHIM would however prefer age-standardized data.
The definition applied by EHIS covers both bronchitis and lung disease characterized by obstruction (emphysema, other COPD). Though these are different disease entities, it is common practice to include both in the definition of COPD. Though the distinction between the different diagnoses is important from a clinical perspective, it is less relevant from a prevention perspective, as common determinants underlie these conditions (smoking, air pollution).
The above definition and calculation are based on the first version of the EHIS questionnaire, as used in the first EHIS wave (2007/2010). The EHIS questionnaire will be revised, hence adaptations to the EHIS question underlying this indicator may occur in the second wave (planned for 2014).
(E)HIS-based estimates may be influenced by reporting biases and sampling related biases. Therefore they may not be an adequate reflection of the current situation in a country, and other estimates may be better for this purpose (see indicator 27b). However, as a common methodology is underlying the gathering of EHIS data, they suit well the purpose of international comparison.
The legal basis for EHIS is regulation (EC) No 1338/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on Community statistics on public health and health and safety at work. This is an umbrella regulation. Specific implementing acts will define the details of the statistics Member States have to deliver to Eurostat. An implementing act on EHIS is expected to come into force in 2014.

References

Work to do

Monitor EHIS/Eurostat developments

European Commission - Public Health: healthindicators.org

Definition