COPD in Australia vs Egypt-Free-Samples for Students-Myassignment

Question: Discuss about the COPD in Australia vs Egypt. Answer: Incidence and prevalence of COPD in Australia: COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder can be defined as one of the most alarming public health disorders among the aging population, whoever this is a disease that targets almost all of the different age groups. COPD is an umbrella terms that encompasses emphysema and chronic bronchitis that restricts the passage of air across the bronchial tubes. This leads to shortness of breath or dyspnoea and can cause life threatening exacerbations in the patient. Hence the mortality of this disease in extremely high in many developing nations, and it continues to be a huge health and wellbeing risk for the society till date. Considering the picture for Australia, the figures and statistics of the diseases indicates that in the past couple of years the number of deaths due to COPD had been as high as 7100 in Australia. According to the report of Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2018), COPD and its related exacerbations and complications have been considered as the 5th leading cause of mortality in the nation. Although, the incidence rate of the disease in this nation for COPD differs when compared to the prevalence rates. There is a significant difference between the incidence rate and the prevalence rate of a particular co-morbidity in case of a particular nation. Whereas, incidence rate indicates at the number of new acquisition of the disease in healthy patients on an annual basis, prevalence indicates at the total number of incidence of the disease in the nation. In case of Australia, the incidence rate of COPD for the patents over the age of 40 years is 13.7%; however in case of the patien t population belonging to the age group of 75 years and above, the incidence rate is almost 30%. Now comparing the broad picture, it can be mentioned that for Australia, the total number of people reported with COPD is 750000, among which 70000 are at high risk of further exacerbations and complications. Hence, the entire picture predicts a scenario where one in seven citizen either has the disease or is at high risk of the disease in the near future. The primary reason behind COPD persisting as a health priority concern in the nation is the high tobacco usage in the county. Furthermore, approximately 20% of the total population in Australia belonging to the age group of 15 and above have been reported to be active smokers; this data indicates at the most plausible reason behind the increased vulnerability and risk of acquainting COPD for Australia (Lungfoundation.com.au.. 2018). Prevalence and mortality rate due to COPD in Australia (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare., 2018) Incidence and prevalence of COPD in Egypt: Considering the statistics of the Egypt, it has to be mentioned that the impact of the COPD on the mortality rates of that developing nation is also extremely high. According to the government reports and statistical reviews on the fact, many reviews have rated COPD as the fourth most common and impactful cause of death in the nation. The mortality rate of the disease in the country is 18.2% due to COPD and the rates have been rising alarmingly. According to Global-disease-burden.healthgrove.com. (2018), it has to be mentioned that the mortality rate in Egypt for COPD is 48.3 per 100000 people and there is slight different in the mortality rates of men and women when it comes to this particular disease. On a more elaborative note, it has to be mentioned that this disease is for the men, the death rate of men was 2,582.3 per 100,000 men in 2013, for women it had been 1,154.6 per 100,000 women, indicating at the higher mortality rates for men when compared to women for COPD in Egypt. The diseases attain its peak in terms of prevalence over the age of 80 years for both men and women for this country. It has to be mentioned that the mortality statistics for the disease in case of the COPD is higher in case of Egypt with 48.3 per 100000 figures, where as the rest of the world falls around approximately 40 per 100000 men. Hence both the incidence rate and prevalence rate is higher in Egypt than in Australia, and the prevalence of the disease far higher in the rural and underdeveloped areas (Fawzy et al., 2016). Incidence rate and prevalence of COPD in Egypt (Global-disease-burden.healthgrove.com., 2018) While comparing the data that has been gathered and analysed above, it can be easily stated that the incidence and prevalence of the disease in extremely higher in case if Egypt than in comparison to Australia. It has to be mentioned in this context that the greater burden of this disease is intricately associated with different socioeconomic marker of health and the disparity in the health and other related social privileges that both of the nations are privy to. One of the greatest contributing factors behind the occurrence or prevalence of this disease is associated with the prevalence of smoking and tobacco addiction. The smoking rate in Egypt is as high as 49 % and around 5.4 million deaths is caused by in this nation directly or indirectly due to heavy smoking. Elaborating more, it has to be mentioned that smoking damages the alveoli, airways, and the lung parenchyma, in turn complicating theair passage and the aspiration and expiration process in turn. As smoking is a signific antly high contributing factor to deteriorating the lung parenchyma and narrowing down the airways, this figure only validates the massive difference in incidence and prevalence being excessively high in Egypt than in Australia (Badway et al., 2016). Along with that the lack of proper employment framework and lack of health literacy in the rural areas contribute to high poverty and in turn lesser access to better and more advanced health infrastructure in the country. The individual mortality due to COPD in Egypt is 12.4% higher in rural areas than the urban counterpart, and the reduced lifestyle quality, poverty and lack of health literacy is a significant contributing to the disparity in this scenario. Lastly, another major contributing factor to this scenario is the exposure to bio-fuel being high in case of most of the areas in Egypt which further aggravates the vulnerability of this population to COPD and other related health disorders (Jones et al., 2012). Considering the employment patterns and statistics of Egypt, almost 25.09% of the total manpower of the nation is engaged in the industrial sector. These chemical amd bio-fuel industries impose a great exposure risk to chemical dust, fumes and burning fuel. Acprding to the research prolonged and persistent exposure to such chemical wastes can damage the airways of the workers if necessary measures are not taken. The exposure risk and damage in turn increases the risk for COPD effectively. The health literacy and understanding of the different promotional and preventative behaviour is lower in the rural areas and hence the understanding of wearing protective gear among this population is also low. Therefore, this enhanced exposure to bio-fuel and chemical waste to a vast section of the population is also a facilitating factor behind the enhanced COPD prevalence and incidence. Hence, on a concluding note, it can be stated that the above mentioned socio-economic and demographic determinants are the causing agent behind the disparity among the COPD incidence and prevalence in both of the countries. References: Badway, M. S., Hamed, A. F., Yousef, F. M. (2016). Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Qena Governorate.Egyptian Journal of Chest Diseases and Tuberculosis,65(1), 29-34. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Egypt. (2018).Global-disease-burden.healthgrove.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018, from https://global-disease-burden.healthgrove.com/l/46059/Chronic-Obstructive-Pulmonary-Disease-in-Egypt COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), How many die from COPD? - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2018).Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Retrieved 26 March 2018, from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/asthma-other-chronic-respiratory-conditions/copd-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/contents/how-many-die-from-copd COPD: The statistics | Lung Foundation Australia. (2018).Lungfoundation.com.au. Retrieved 26 March 2018, from https://lungfoundation.com.au/health-professionals/clinical-resources/copd/copd-the-statistics/ Distribution of COPD-related symptoms in the Middle East and North Africa: Results of the BREATHE study.(Report). (2012).Respiratory Medicine,106, S25-S32. Erbas, Bircan, Ullah, Shahid, Hyndman, Rob J., Scollo, Michelle, Abramson, Michael. (2012). Forecasts of COPD mortality in Australia: 2006-2025.BMC Medical Research Methodology,12, 17. Fawzy, M. S., Hussein, M. H., Abdelaziz, E. Z., Yamany, H. A., Ismail, H. M., Toraih, E. A. (2016). Association of MicroRNA-196a2 variant with response to short-acting 2-agonist in COPD: an Egyptian pilot study.PLoS One,11(4), e0152834. Jones, Paul W., Shahrour, Naem, Nejjari, Chakib, Lahlou, Aicha, Doble, Adam, Rashid, Nauman, Hasnaoui, Abdelkader El. (2012). Psychometric evaluation of the COPD assessment test: Data from the BREATHE study in the Middle East and North Africa region.(Clinical report).Respiratory Medicine,106, S86-S99.