**3.1.6 Socioeconomic status**

Morbidity and mortality rates have been shown to be inversely related to socioeconomic status(U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources,1984; Mannino & Buist,2007). Relative lack of awareness,diagnostic and therapeutic facilities and poorer health conditions may in part be connected to the socioeconomic status of the affected population.

### **3.1.7 Developmental events**

Impairment in early lung growth and development appears to increase the risk of development of COPD(Weiss & Ware,1996 as cited in Shapiro SD,2010). Maternal smoking, low-birth weight and recurrent childhood respiratory infections have been associated with higher incidence of adulthood COPD.(Marossy et al.,2007; Shaheen,1998 as cited in Shapiro SD,2010)
