[The incidence and social medicine significance of chronic obstructive respiratory tract diseases in West Germany].
Diseases affecting the respiratory organs are widespread among the population, and are of considerable importance both in the socio-medical area and for the economy. On the basis of the statistics issued by the umbrella organisation of the AOK (general health insurers), it can be seen that, within the inhomogeneous group of diseases of the respiratory organs classified in accordance with the International Classification of Diseases (ICD Code 460-519), within the course of the years 1975 to 1985, a shift can be seen to have occurred with respect to the amount and duration of time off work and hospitalisation. Acute and chronic infections of the upper airways are on the decrease, while chronic obstructive bronchial diseases are becoming more and more important. In the statistics recorded by the Verband Deutscher Rentenversicherungsträger (VDR = Association of German Compensation Carriers), since 1984, there has been a decrease in cases of early retirement due to chronic obstructive bronchial diseases - in 1986, the overall number of new cases of early retirement for health reasons dropped to below 10000 for the first time. In any attempt at calculating the cost to the general economy, reliable figures (VDR sector) must be distinguished from projected figures (AOK sector), since only just on 50 per cent of all persons pursuing an occupation are insured in the General Local Health Insurances (AOK). The greater part of the overall costs incurred by chronic obstructive bronchial diseases, however, is accounted for by the cost of premature retirement (compensation).
Lauber
B
B
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005860:Germany, West; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014942:Workers' Compensation
Häufigkeit und sozialmedizinische Bedeutung chronisch obstruktiver Atemwegserkrankungen in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.