TY - JOUR T1 - High rate of obstructive pulmonary function tests in adults below 40 Years of age in Germany JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 42 IS - Suppl 57 SP - P1537 AU - Rainer Wiewrodt AU - Bianca Hoepfner AU - Lars Henning Schmist AU - Karlheinz Blackert AU - Felix J.F. Herth Y1 - 2013/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P1537.abstract N2 - Background:Current studies (i.e. BOLD-project) show a high prevalence of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) in Germany, with more than 10% of all people over 40 years being affected. In contrast, the prevalence of obstructive pulmonary diseases in adults below 40 years of age is not well documented.Aim:The LuFuMobile is a mobile lung function laboratory with two test sites (Fa. Geraterm), and was inaugurated at the 52th German Thoracic Society Meeting in April 2011. Until August 2012, measurements were performed at 25 locations throughout Germany. The protocol includes a standardized questionnaire and a spirometry according to ERS/ATS-criteria, and was conducted by experienced lung function staff. The primary aim is to determine the national prevalence of obstructive pulmonary function tests (FEV1/FVC < 0.7 and/or FEV1 < 80% predicted).Results:Until now 2800 subjects took part (age (median) 61 yrs, range 18-91; 46.5% female). Of 462 individuals (16.5%) with known lung diseases, obstructions were present in 54.5% of them. In people unfamiliar of having lung diseases (n=2338, median 60 yrs), obstructive pulmonary function tests were observed in 20.1% (18.0% in never smokers vs. 22.1% ever smokers, p<0.02). Regarding young adults below 40 years of age (n=406, 17.4%), 10.6% showed obstructions. If they reported “occasional or frequent wheezing”, the prevalence rate increased to 18.5%, and peaked at 25% in case of additional smoking.Conclusion:One out of ten young adults below 40 years of age that do not know about having any kind of lung disease displays an obstructive pulmonary function test. Smoking seems to be a risk factor for obstructions in young adults, too. ER -