One in every six patients who visit the out-patient department (OPD) dealing with respiratory diseases in Indian hospitals suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). The first nationwide screening programme conducted by Pune-based CREST, an institute dedicated towards research and education in the field of chronic lung diseases, found that as many as 269 out of 2,440 patients screened were suffering from COPD. 

Out of the total patients screened in the survey, 75 percent were males and 25 percent were females. The survey, conducted across 44 medical colleges in India as part of a week-long awareness programme around World COPD Day, was based on screening patients using spirometry, a peak flow meter test and a questionnaire.