PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Stig Hagstad
AU  - Linda Ekerljung
AU  - Anne Lindberg
AU  - Eva Rönnmark
AU  - Bo Lundbäck
TI  - COPD among non-smokers
DP  - 2011 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - p325
VI  - 38
IP  - Suppl 55
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p325.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p325.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38
AB  - Background: In westernized countries including Sweden, smoking and increasing age are the most important risk factors for COPD. Prevalence and risk factors of COPD among non-smokers are not well studied.Aim: To study the prevalence and risk factors of COPD among never smokers and to determine the proportion of never smokers among subjects with COPD.Methods: Of 5189 postal questionnaire responders (response rate 88%) aged 46-77 years from a stratified sample of the general population of Norrbotten, Sweden, a random sample of 1500 subjects were invited to structured interviews and lung functions test, and 1237 completed a lung function test with acceptable quality. Never smokers were defined as those who had smoked <1 cigarette/day for <1 year. COPD was defined as GOLD stage ≥II, as several medical conditions are associated with a FEV1/FVC <0.7.Results: The prevalence of COPD among non-smokers was 3.4% and tended to be more common among women than men (4% vs 2.3%, NS) and was strongly age related particularly among men. For comparison the overall prevalence in ages >45 y COPD was 8.1% (similar in men and women). Among never smokers the prevalence of severe COPD (FEV1<50% of predicted) was 0.8 (women 0.9%; men 0.6%; NS). In contrast to men, severe cases of COPD were found among women aged <65 years. Of all men with COPD, 15% were never smokers versus twice that much among women. Increasing age was a significant risk factor, while passive smoking, manual work in industry and female sex tended to be associated with COPD among never smokers.Conclusion: The prevalence of clinically relevant COPD among never smokers aged >45 y was 3.4% and was associated with increasing age. One out of seven men with COPD versus one out of three women had never been smokers.