Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer Japan Jointly Survey Japanese People Older Than 40 on COPD.

Tokyo, Japan, Oct 26, 2005 - (JCNN) - Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim and Pfizer Japan jointly announced on October 25 the results of their awareness survey on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in which 7,609 people aged 40 or older (4,364 men and 3,245 women) answered via the Internet from September 16 to 20.

Of the respondents, 23.6% said that they recognize the disease, COPD, and 24.1% are suspected of having COPD. Of those with suspected COPD, 28.7% know of the disease. When asked about the understanding of COPD in those who know of the disease, 56.8% understand that COPD causes breath shortness, chronic cough and sputum.

Of those with suspected COPD, only 5.1% have consulted with a doctor. When asked about the reason why they decided to go see a doctor, 44.4% answered that they noticed symptoms to a certain extent while 29.6% said that they became anxious after they read a newspaper article or watched a TV program on COPD.

In turn, of those who are suspected COPD and have never consulted a doctor, 65.4% answered that they are not affected with the disease.

The survey defines suspected COPD patients as those who have three or more of the following symptoms: 1) cough several times a day; 2) produce yellowish, viscous sputum several times a day; 3) easily become short of breath compared to others in the same age group; 4) aged 40 or older; and 5) currently smoke or have a smoking history.

Detailed survey results in English are available at Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim's Official Web Site <http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.co.jp/news/p-release_e/05_1025_a-e.html>.

Source: JCN http://www.japancorp.net

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