Burden of Lung Disease in Hong Kong: Direct and Indirect Cost of Patients With Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease in Specialist Clinics and General Outpatient Clinics

PURPOSE: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) was the fourth leading cause of death in 2004 worldwide. It was estimated that the prevalence of COPD among the elderly Chinese living in Hong Kong was 25.9%. So far, there is little information on the burden of this disease among the population in Hong Kong.