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A. Figure, . Copd, A. Estimates, . Austria, . Dk et al., Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; NS, Not specified.! * Symptoms correspond to cough and sputum at least 3 months each year. These patients had chronic bronchitis.! ? Functional respiratory tests: FEV1/FVC<70% and FEV1<80% of predicted or FEV1/FVC<65% or FEV1/FVC<70% or FEV1/FVC< 88% (male)/ 89% (female)! ? Abbreviations for countries: United Kingdom; EU, 16 European Union Countries.! § Abbreviations for types of population: GP, general population; HP, health prevention center; TP, total population; OC, occupational cohort; PC, primary care.! # Age was reported in various ways distinguished here as follows: !? x", minimum age; "x" or "x(y)", mean age or mean age (SD); "{x-y}", age range i.e. {min-max}.! ? These data are also reported in Schirnhofer! ** Prevalence estimates based on the European Respiratory Society?s statement or based on " clinical " criteria (FEV1/FVC < 70%) correspond to 11% and 18, 3%, respectively.! 0%! 20%! 40%! 60%! 80%! 100%! AT, pp.14-51, 2000.

A. Figure, . Copd, D. Data, . Denmark, . Fi et al., Text abbreviations: COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; GPCS, General Practitioner and/or Chest Specialist.! *Abbreviations for countries: AT, Austria, 16 European Union Countries.! ?Abbreviations for classifications: ERS, 1995.

B. , B. T. Society, S. !. Société-de-pneumonologie-de-langue-française-classifications, E. ?the, . Ats et al., classifications only define three stages.! §In this study, based on GOLD 2003 severity scale, the estimates in stage 0 defining persons at risk of COPD ranged from 51.7% in Switzerland to 89.8% in Spain.! #Persons with both FEV1/FVC<70% and FEV1?80% (considered as having COPD in the GOLD 2006 classification but not in the BTS 1995 classification) were also included in the study.! ?Airway obstruction of any degree was defined by FEV1/FVC<70% and the severity of obstruction was graded according to the FEV1 value: mild (FEV1?70% of predicted) and moderate-severe, 1995.

*. Airway, 80% and the severity of obstruction was graded according to the FEV1/FVC value: 70-79%, minimal to mild; 50-69%, moderate; <50%, severe.! Males! Females! -40! -20! 0! 20! 40! 60!, 1988.

M. L. Mortality and !. A. , year(s)!

A. , A. Be, . Belgium, . Bu, . Bulgaria et al., associated codes were used: [10], version 10 and codes J40?J44 and J47 (excepted for Greece where the estimates correspond to codes J40?J47); [45], version 9 and codes 490?493; [78], version 9 and codes 490-496. ! COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.! Abbreviations for countries, the three mentioned references, the following versions of the International Classification of the Disease and