Global perspective on tobacco control. Part I. The global state of the tobacco epidemic.

Tobacco smoking is losing adherents in some countries, and a number of international developments may dramatically change the choices people make concerning tobacco. However, the growth of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the world is nevertheless assured-tobacco consumption is rising globally because of increased consumption in many low-income countries. Risk of COPD is strong wherever smokers are found, and even among former smokers, it remains high for decades. Both COPD and smoking produce lower measurable quality of life assessment, but little attention is given to the association, apart from noting that cessation rates are poor among COPD patients. Tobacco smoking rates vary; men usually smoke more than women in overall consumption and in prevalence. Current available estimates are 49% for men and 8% for women in low- and middle-income countries, and 37% for men and 21% for women in high-income countries. These figures give little information, however, because there can be variations within and across populations. What is important is that about a third of all adults in the world currently smoke, and that it will take a tremendous turnaround to put a halt to the overall growth of tobacco use. Smoking-related COPD rates will continue to be high for some time. The future of COPD is related most dramatically to low- or middle-income countries, where more than four in five current smokers in the world live. The predictable health consequences of smoking, including an enormous burden in COPD, have only begun to emerge.