Lisa Isaacs
Cape Town has more cases of lung disease and conditions than 24 other countries, according to a study.
Chest Research Foundation director Sundeep Salvi spoke of the findings of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) study at the Cipla Respiratory congress in the city earlier this month.
COPD conditions include emphysema, chronic bronchitis, non-reversible asthma, characterised, among other symptoms, by increased breathlessness.
Professor Richard van Zyl-Smit, of the UCT Lung Institute, said COPD can also follow TB infection.
It was found that 19% of adults surveyed in Cape Town exhibited symptoms of the diseases.
The study looked at more than 30 000 people from countries such as Turkey, Norway, China, Germany, Nigeria, India, Mexico and Spain.
“This conveys a message to all stakeholders that it is time to wake up in Africa, particularly in South Africa, when it comes to the rise of COPD in the region,” said Salvi.
Van Zyl-Smit said COPD was poorly understood and often overlooked, despite it being the number three cause of death globally.
“There is no question that COPD is increasing. Cape Town has a high prevalence of smoking tobacco and marijuana,” she said, adding that tough smoking laws, reducing air pollution and TB prevention were key in decreasing the conditions.