RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 How to screen chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in general practice?
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP PA1808
DO 10.1183/13993003.congress-2015.PA1808
VO 46
IS suppl 59
A1 Ana Vieira
A1 Joana Lages
A1 Catarina Lacerda
A1 João Cruz
A1 João Cunha
YR 2015
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA1808.abstract
AB The early diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is prioritary. Respiratory Health Screening Questionnaire (RHSQ), validated for COPD screening, seems a simple tool in general practice.An awareness campaign on World COPD Day invited those over 40 years old, with no known respiratory diseases, to answer a questionnaire and perform a spirometry.We aimed to determine the prevalence of COPD risk factors, respiratory symptoms, comorbidities and COPD; to investigate the RHSQ validity to screen COPD.The sample included 193 participants (53% women, mean age 60+-11 years, mean BMI 27+-4kg/m2), 19% smokers and 24% former smokers (mean pack-year 20+-18). COPD risk factors and comorbidities are shown in [table 1] . Dyspnea was present in half of the subjects. Respiratory symptoms are shown in [table 2] .View this table:Table 1 COPD risk factors and comorbiditiesView this table:Table 2 Respiratory symptomsA positive RHSQ for possible COPD (>16 points) was obtained in 50%. COPD was diagnosed in 19 (10%) patients, mainly group A (n=11) and group B (n=6). COPD prevalence was 20% in smokers. Among COPD subjects, 16 (87%) had a positive RHSQ.The sensitivity and specificity of the RHSQ for COPD diagnosis were 90% and 45%, respectively, with a negative predictive value of 95%.Underdiagnosis of COPD is a well-known problem. The RHSQ had a high negative predictive value and may constitute a simple and cost-effective screening tool for the early diagnosis of COPD.