Prevalence of COPD in Spain: impact of undiagnosed COPD on quality of life and daily life activities.

Abstract

AIMS:

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Spain and identify the level of undiagnosed disease and its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL) and activities of daily living (ADL).

METHODS:

A population-based sample of 4274 adults aged 40-80 years was surveyed. They were invited to answer a questionnaire and undergo prebrochodilator and postbronchodilator spirometry. COPD was defined as a postbronchodilator FEV(1)/FVC (forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity) ratio of <0.70.

RESULTS:

For 3802 participants with good-quality postbronchodilator spirometry, the overall prevalence of COPD was 10.2% (95% CI 9.2% to 11.1%) and was higher in men (15.1%) than in women (5.6%). The prevalence of COPD stage II or higher was 4.4% (95%CI; 3.8%-5.1%). The prevalence of COPD increased with age and with cigarette smoking and was higher in those with a low educational level. A previous diagnosis of COPD was reported by only 27% of those with COPD. Diagnosed patients had more severe disease, higher cumulative tobacco consumption and more severely impaired HRQL compared with undiagnosed subjects. However, even patients with undiagnosed COPD stage I+ already showed impairment in HRQL and in some aspects of ADL compared with participants without COPD.

CONCLUSIONS:

The prevalence of COPD in individuals between 40 and 80 years of age in Spain is 10.2% and increases with age, tobacco consumption and lower educational levels. The rate of diagnosised COPD is very high and undiagnosed individuals with COPD already have a significant impairment in HRQL and ADL.

• Authors: M Miravitlles, J B Soriano, F García-Río, L Muñoz, E Duran-Tauleria, G Sanchez, V Sobradillo, J Ancochea
• Journal: Thorax (Thorax) Vol. 64 Issue 10 Pg. 863-8 (Oct 2009) ISSN: 1468-3296 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19553233 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Activities of Daily Living
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Cost of Illness
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prevalence
• Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (epidemiology, psychology)
• Quality of Life
• Risk Factors
• Spain (epidemiology)