Geographical Distribution of COPD Prevalence in the Americas

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Background:

• Estimating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) prevalence in the Americas is challenging due to uneven survey distribution.
• Accurate geographical distribution data is crucial for understanding COPD's impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To cartographically represent COPD prevalence across the Americas using GIS.
• To identify geographical areas with high COPD prevalence for targeted public health interventions.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search for COPD prevalence rates from spirometry-confirmed diagnoses in individuals aged 40+.
• Application of Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation with population density filtering (<0.1 inhabitants/km²).
• Visualization using a blue to red color scale to represent varying prevalence levels.

Main Results:

• High COPD prevalence was observed in specific regions of Canada and the United States (Great Lakes, Missouri, Ohio, Mississippi basins).
• Elevated rates were also noted in coastal Brazil, Uruguay, and the Argentine Pampas.
• Most other American regions exhibited intermediate COPD prevalence.

Conclusions:

• IDW interpolation is effective for visualizing estimated COPD prevalence across the Americas, even with sparse data.
• The maps can help draw attention to the significant prevalence of this preventable and treatable disease.
• This spatial analysis aids in understanding the geographical burden of COPD in the Americas.