TY - JOUR T1 - Atopy is a risk factor for COPD symptoms: Results from the EUROSCOP study JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 38 IS - Suppl 55 SP - p467 AU - Fatemeh Fattahi AU - Nick H.T. ten Hacken AU - Claes-Göran Löfdahl AU - Machteld N. Hylkema AU - Wim Timens AU - Dirkje S. Postma AU - Judith M. Vonk Y1 - 2011/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p467.abstract N2 - Background: Pathogenesis of COPD is complex and remains poorly understood. EUROSCOP (European Respiratory Society Study on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) showed that 18% of their COPD participants were atopic (Watson, L. et al. ERJ 2006; 28:311-8).We investigated whether atopy affects symptoms and lung function in these COPD patients.Methods: We included 843 male and 320 female smokers with mild to moderate COPD from EUROSCOP. Risk factors associated with the presence of atopy (positive phadiatop) as well as the association between atopy and symptoms, and atopy and lung function (FEV1 and FEV1/FVC) were analysed using multiple regression models adjusted for confounders. Interactions between atopy and gender, age, and smoking were also investigated.Results: Prevalence of atopy was higher in males than females (21% vs 10%, p<0.001). Male gender (OR: 2.20; 95% CI: 1.47-3.36), BMI (1.04; 1.00-1.08) and age (0.97; 0.95-0.99) were associated with atopy. Additionally atopy was associated with a higher prevalence of cough (1.71; 1.26-2.34) and phlegm production (1.50; 1.10-2.03) in the total population, and with waking up with chest tightness in females (female: 2.69; 1.11-6.55, male: 0.84; 0.47-1.49, female vs male: 3.21; 1.12-9.25). There were no significant interactions between atopy and age or smoking with respect to symptoms. Atopy was not associated with lung function.Conclusions: The present study for the first time shows that atopic COPD patients more likely report respiratory symptoms than non-atopic COPD patients. However, atopy is not associated with lung function. Of interest, male gender, higher BMI and younger age are risk factors for atopy in COPD patients.Study was supported by AstraZeneca. ER -