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Ataru Igarashi,1 Yoshinosuke Fukuchi,2 Kazuto Hirata,3 Masakazu Ichinose,4 Atsushi Nagai,5 Masaharu Nishimura,6 Hajime Yoshisue,7 Kenichi Ohara,8 Jean-Bernard Gruenberger9 1Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; 2Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan; 3Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan; 4Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan; 5Research Institute for Respiratory Diseases, Shin-Yurigaoka General Hospital, Kawasaki City, Japan; 6Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Faculty School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan; 7Medical Division, Novartis Pharma K.K., Tokyo, Japan; 8Market Access Division, Novartis Pharma K.K., Tokyo, Japan; 9Market Access Division, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland Background: COPD remains a major health problem in Japan. Patients with COPD experience a reduced quality of life (QoL) and have a higher chance of work impairment and productivity loss. However, there is a lack of data on the impact of COPD in terms of QoL and work activity impairment in Japan. This study assessed the socioeconomic burden of COPD in Japan and the impact it may have on the working age population. Patients and methods: This was a 2-year retrospective chart review in COPD patients aged ≥40 years, with at least one health care visit to clinic or hospital in the previous 12 months. Patients were required to have available medical charts for at least the previous 24 months. Symptoms were assessed using COPD assessment test score; EuroQoL Group 5 Dimension (EQ-5D-5L) and work productivity and activity impairment general health questionnaires were used to evaluate health-related QoL and work productivity, and health care resource utilization data were obtained from clinical charts. Results: In total, 71 patients aged