The Austrian LEAD Study (Lung, Heart, social, Body)–
A longitudinal study investigating health challenges in Pulmonology

While data for mortality and morbidity of COPD is missing in Austria, a recent cross­sectional study in the city of Salzburg, Austria showed that the overall prevalence of GOLD stage I or higher COPD was 26.1% (similar for women and men). Moreover this study revealed that the prevalence of GOLD stage II or higher COPD was 10.7% and 1% of the population met the criteria for GOLD stage III or IV. Although the study protocol showed limitations, e.g male and female were older than 40 years, this investigation emphasised the impact of this disease in Austria.

Das Ludwig Boltzmann Insitut für COPD und Pneumologische Epidemiologie wurde 2002 im Respiratorischen und Intensivmedizinsichen Zentrum (1. Interne Lungenabteilung), Otto Wagner Spital, Wien gegründet. Das Ziel des Institutes ist es, klinische und translationale Forschung im Kompetenzbereich des pulmologischne Zentrums Wien zu bestärken.