Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mortality rate trends in Taiwan, 2002-2022: a joinpoint regression analysis

Chronic respiratory diseases, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are the eighth leading cause of death in Taiwan. Although COPD management has advanced in the previous two decades, mortality trends remain unclear. The present study analysed COPD mortality rates in Taiwan from 2002 to 2022.

COPD mortality and population data were obtained from Taiwan's National Health Statistics and the Ministry of the Interior's Demographic Yearbook. For comparison, global COPD mortality data were sourced from the WHO mortality database. A joinpoint analysis was conducted to assess trends in age-specific and age-standardised mortality rates across sex, region or country.

From 2002 to 2022, Taiwan had 100 147 deaths attributed to COPD. The age-standardised mortality rate decreased with an annual average percentage change (AAPC) of -3.79%, which was more pronounced in women (AAPC: -4.28%) than in men (AAPC: -3.79%). The largest decline occurred from 2016 to 2022, with an AAPC of -7.70%. Most COPD-related deaths occurred among older individuals, with significant reductions in mortality rates observed among men aged ≥60 years and among women aged ≥50 years. A downward trend in COPD mortality rates was noted in most counties from 2016 to 2022, although patterns varied. The overall COPD mortality rate has declined in most countries since 2002, including Taiwan, which ranks third in Asia in terms of reductions in COPD mortality rates during this period.

From 2002 to 2022, COPD mortality rates in Taiwan declined considerably across sexes and regions, although patterns varied. In Asia, Taiwan's reduction in the rate of COPD mortality ranks third behind those of the Republic of Korea and Singapore. The reductions observed in COPD mortality rates in Taiwan may be attributable to tobacco control initiatives and nationwide COPD care programmes.