Early detection of COPD in general practice

TY - JOUR

T1 - Early detection of COPD in general practice

AU - Ulrik, Charlotte Suppli

AU - Løkke, Anders

AU - Dahl, Ronald

AU - Dollerup, Jens

AU - Hansen, Gert H.

AU - Cording, Patrick Hagge

AU - Andersen, Klaus Kaae

AU - TOP study group

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - Background and aim: Early detection enables the possibility for interventions to reduce the future burden of COPD. The Danish National Board of Health recommends that individuals >35 years with tobacco/occupational exposure, and at least 1 respiratory symptom should be offered a spirometry to facilitate early detection of COPD. The aim, therefore, was to provide evidence for the feasibility and impact of doing spirometry in this target population. Methods: Participating general practitioners (GPs) (n = 335; 10% of the Danish GPs) recruited consecutively, subjects with >35 years exposure, no previous diagnosis of obstructive lung disease, and at least 1 of the following symptoms: cough, dyspnea, wheezing, sputum, or recurrent respiratory infection. Data on age, smoking status, pack-years, body mass index (BMI), dyspnea score (Medical Research Council, MRC), and pre-bronchodilator spirometry (FEV 1, FEV 1% predicted, FEV 1/FVC) were obtained. Results: A total of 3.095 (51% females) subjects was included: mean age 58 years, BMI 26.3, and 31.5 pack-years. The majority of subjects (88%) reported MRC score 1 or 2. FEV 1/FVC-ratio ≤ 0.7 was found in 34.8% of the subjects; the prevalence of airway obstruction increased with age and decreased with increasing BMI, and was higher in men and current smokers. According to the level of FEV 1, 79% of the subjects with airway obstruction had mild to moderate COPD. Conclusions: More than one-third of the recruited subjects had airway obstruction (FEV 1/ FVC < 0.7). Early detection of COPD appears to be feasible through offering spirometry to adults with tobacco/occupational exposure and at least 1 respiratory symptom.

AB - Background and aim: Early detection enables the possibility for interventions to reduce the future burden of COPD. The Danish National Board of Health recommends that individuals >35 years with tobacco/occupational exposure, and at least 1 respiratory symptom should be offered a spirometry to facilitate early detection of COPD. The aim, therefore, was to provide evidence for the feasibility and impact of doing spirometry in this target population. Methods: Participating general practitioners (GPs) (n = 335; 10% of the Danish GPs) recruited consecutively, subjects with >35 years exposure, no previous diagnosis of obstructive lung disease, and at least 1 of the following symptoms: cough, dyspnea, wheezing, sputum, or recurrent respiratory infection. Data on age, smoking status, pack-years, body mass index (BMI), dyspnea score (Medical Research Council, MRC), and pre-bronchodilator spirometry (FEV 1, FEV 1% predicted, FEV 1/FVC) were obtained. Results: A total of 3.095 (51% females) subjects was included: mean age 58 years, BMI 26.3, and 31.5 pack-years. The majority of subjects (88%) reported MRC score 1 or 2. FEV 1/FVC-ratio ≤ 0.7 was found in 34.8% of the subjects; the prevalence of airway obstruction increased with age and decreased with increasing BMI, and was higher in men and current smokers. According to the level of FEV 1, 79% of the subjects with airway obstruction had mild to moderate COPD. Conclusions: More than one-third of the recruited subjects had airway obstruction (FEV 1/ FVC < 0.7). Early detection of COPD appears to be feasible through offering spirometry to adults with tobacco/occupational exposure and at least 1 respiratory symptom.

U2 - http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S16929

DO - http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S16929

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1176-9106

VL - 6

SP - 123

EP - 127

JO - International Journal of COPD

JF - International Journal of COPD

ER -