Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 8, Suppl. 2, 2010 299 Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 8, Suppl. 2, pp 299-305, 2010 Copyright © 2009 Trakia University Available online at: http://www.uni-sz.bg ISSN 1313-7050 (print) ISSN 1313-3551 (online) RESULTS FROM THE SCREENING FOR COPD PERFORMED AMONG THE CITIZENS OF STARA ZAGORA D. Christova 1 , D. Dimitrov 1 , D. Dimov 2 , M. Angelova 2 , Y. Zhelyazkova 2 , V. Ilieva 2 , A. Koychev 2 , B. Parashkevova 3 , G. Prakova 2 , T. Vlaykova 4* 1 Undergraduate students in Medicine from Study group in Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Trakia University, Stara Zagora 2 Dept. Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty, Trakia University, Stara Zagora 3 Dept Social Medicine, Medical Faculty, Trakia University, Stara Zagora 4 Dept. Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Trakia University, Stara Zagora ABSTRACT The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a fatal disease, which impede breathing. According to the epidemiological data, 210 million people worldwide have suffered from COPD. COPD is a disease that can be prevented and treated. However despite the high incidence of COPD the people awareness is extremely insufficient - 75% of all ailing people do not know that have suffered from this disease. In this respect on the day of the fight against COPD (19.11.2009) with assistance of Medical Faculty and Department of Internal Medicine at the University Hospital, Trakia University was conducted a screening for COPD among urban population of Stara Zagora. Although the screening covered only a small part of the citizens of Stara Zagora (186 individuals), it has proved its effectiveness giving opportunity new cases among persons having no clinical symptoms for COPD to be found. The collected data indicated clearly about the gravity of the situation for COPD and risk factors and determined the requirment people to be informed about the risk factors for development of COPD and other chronic lung diseases. Key words: COPD, risk factors, spirometry, screening method INTRODUCTION The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a fatal disease, which impede breathing. According to the epidemiological data, 210 million people worldwide have suffered from COPD. During the year of 2005 more than 3 million people have died from COPD, which is about 5% of all death people in this year (1-3). Almost 90% of all cases have occurred in countries with low living standard. The main reason for development of COPD is tobacco smoke (smoking and secondary inhale of smoke) (1, 3). At the present time COPD _______________________________ *Correspondence to: Assoc. Prof. Tatyana Vlaykova, PhD, Medical Faculty, Trakia University, Dept Chemistry and Biochemistry, 11 Armeiska Str., Stara Zagora, 6000, Tel: +35942664326, +359898743832Fax: +35942700702, e-mail: tvlaykov@mf.uni-sz.bg affects men and women almost equally, because of raising number of female smokers (mainly in countries with high living standard). COPD is a disease that can be prevented and treated. At a rough estimate, if no measures are taken to reduce the risk of developing COPD, especially in struggle against smoking, the overall mortality from COPD in the next 10 years will exceed 30% (4). It is considered that until 2020 COPD will be the third main reason (post heart attack and stroke) causing death among human population (5). Despite the high incidence of COPD the people awareness is extremely insufficient - 75% of all ailing people do not know that have suffered from this disease. Character of diseases The chronic obstructive pulmonary is a disease of the lungs characterized by limitation of airflow in the air-ways – partially or completely irreversible. Restriction of airflow