According to Asthma Society of Canada, about three million Canadians have asthma, one of the more common respiratory diseases. At some point, more than 15% of Canadian children between the ages of four and 11 have been diagnosed with asthma.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) is another common respiratory disorder of which 80% to 90% of cases, cigarette smoking is the principal underlying cause. In 2004, COPD was the cause of 5,152 deaths among men and 4,455 among women in Canada – 4% of all deaths. As people live longer and the population ages, the incidence of COPD is expected to continue to grow.
AstraZeneca is committed to improving the health and quality of life for individuals suffering from respiratory disease. By providing a full range of innovative products and inhalation devices, we are helping physicians treat all levels of asthma severity in both adults and children.
As a result of an ongoing aggressive research program, we are also developing a new wave of treatment options and products for both asthma and COPD.