OBJECTIVETo study the death burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) in west rural areas of China in 2004 - 2005.

METHODSThe data from 2004 - 2005 the Third National Mortality Retrospective Sampling Survey were used in the study. A total of 28 621 276 person years were investigated in west rural areas, which covered 12 provinces, and consisted of 42 surveillance districts. Based on the data of death cause and population, mortality of COPD, years of potential life lost(YPLL) rate, working YPLL (WYPLL) rate, YPLL rate due to COPD/YPLL rate due to all deaths in west rural areas were calculated and compared with other rural areas. Standardized death rate, standardized YPLL (SYPLL) rate, standardized working YPLL (SWYPLL) rate were calculated from census data in 2000 as standard population and 2004 - 2005 national life expectancy as standard life expectancy.

RESULTSThe elder has the higher crude death rate and YPLL rate of COPD in survey districts of west rural areas. And the crude death rate of COPD and YPLL rate were different in different genders. The YPLL rate was 15.47‰ in male and 15.73‰ in female. The crude death rate, YPLL rate, WYPLL rate, the ratio of YPLL rate due to COPD/YPLL rate due to all deaths in survey districts of west rural areas were: 109.53/100 000, 15.76‰, 2.82‰, 11.23%, which were high. While crude death rate, YPLL rate, WYPLL rate, the ratio of YPLL rate due to COPD/YPLL rate due to all deaths in the poorest survey districts of west rural areas were: 122.04/100 000, 27.47‰, 4.26‰, 13.44%, which were higher than other stratifications of west rural areas.

CONCLUSIONThe death burden of COPD in west rural areas in 2004 - 2005 was the heaviest one in China which experienced the feature that the poorer the rural regions, the heavier the death burden.