Massimo Guerriero1, Marco Caminati2, Giovanni Viegi3, Gianenrico Senna4, Giancarlo Cesana5, Carlo Pomari6. 1. Department of Computer Science, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy. Electronic address: massimo.guerriero@univr.it. 2. Allergy Unit, Verona University and General Hospital, Piazzale Stefani 1, 37126 Verona, Italy. Electronic address: ma.caminati@gmail.com. 3. Institutes of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology "Alberto Monroy" (IBIM), CNR, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy; Clinical Physiology (IFC), CNR, Via Trieste 41, 56123 Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: viegi@ibim.cnr.it. 4. Allergy Unit, Verona University and General Hospital, Piazzale Stefani 1, 37126 Verona, Italy. Electronic address: gianenrico.senna@ospedaleuniverona.it. 5. Department of Statistic and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano Bicocca, Via Bicocca Degli Arcimboldi 8, 20126 Milano, Italy. Electronic address: giancarlo.cesana@unimib.it. 6. Pulmonary Unit, Sacro Cuore - Don Calabria Hospital, Via Don A. Sempreboni, 5, 37024 Negrar, Verona, Italy. Electronic address: carlo.pomari@sacrocuore.it.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: COPD prevalence estimates vary mostly depending on different study methodologies. We evaluated the prevalence and clinical features of COPD, as defined by GOLD and ERS/ATS recommendations in a representative sample of Northern Italy general population. METHODS: A randomized cross-sectional study was performed. The study participants completed a questionnaire covering: key indicators for considering a diagnosis of COPD, self-reported physician diagnoses of respiratory disease, pharmacological treatment for respiratory disease, indirect costs, occupational and environmental exposures. They also underwent spirometry and physician assessment. RESULTS: We evaluated 1236 subjects. Daily respiratory symptoms were experienced by 26.7%. Of this group, only 30.7% had previously performed a spirometry. The overall COPD prevalence was: 11.7% according to GOLD criterion; 9.1% according to LLN criterion; 6.8% according to self-reported physician diagnosis. Of note, 48,8% of subjects with a reported diagnosis of COPD had never undergone a spirometry before the study. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides an estimation of COPD prevalence in a representative sample of Northern Italy general population relying on both clinical symptoms and spirometry outcomes, and describes the different prevalence rates depending on the adopted diagnostic criterion. Spirometry underuse may account for under-diagnosis and misdiagnosis of COPD. It may result in a major impact on quality of life as well as in economic burden.
BACKGROUND: COPD prevalence estimates vary mostly depending on different study methodologies. We evaluated the prevalence and clinical features of COPD, as defined by GOLD and ERS/ATS recommendations in a representative sample of Northern Italy general population. METHODS: A randomized cross-sectional study was performed. The study participants completed a questionnaire covering: key indicators for considering a diagnosis of COPD, self-reported physician diagnoses of respiratory disease, pharmacological treatment for respiratory disease, indirect costs, occupational and environmental exposures. They also underwent spirometry and physician assessment. RESULTS: We evaluated 1236 subjects. Daily respiratory symptoms were experienced by 26.7%. Of this group, only 30.7% had previously performed a spirometry. The overall COPD prevalence was: 11.7% according to GOLD criterion; 9.1% according to LLN criterion; 6.8% according to self-reported physician diagnosis. Of note, 48,8% of subjects with a reported diagnosis of COPD had never undergone a spirometry before the study. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides an estimation of COPD prevalence in a representative sample of Northern Italy general population relying on both clinical symptoms and spirometry outcomes, and describes the different prevalence rates depending on the adopted diagnostic criterion. Spirometry underuse may account for under-diagnosis and misdiagnosis of COPD. It may result in a major impact on quality of life as well as in economic burden.
Authors: Anthony Paulo Sunjaya; Nusrat Homaira; Kate Corcoran; Allison Martin; Norbert Berend; Christine Jenkins Journal: NPJ Prim Care Respir Med Date: 2022-03-08 Impact factor: 2.871