Abstract
OBJECTIVE:Identify clinical signs and symptoms,previous exacerbations,comorbidities and clinical situation at the time of diagnosis COPD in Primary Care and Respiratory Units.
METHODS:Retrospective,multicenter observational study where patient data were collected from single medical visit and by medicals records.On-Sint cohort was formed by adult COPD patients,smokers or ex-smokers(≥10packs-years),who were regularly followed-up by 329 primary care physicians(PC) or Pulmonologists(P).Clinical signs and symptoms at the moment of diagnosis COPD,frequency and severity of exacerbations,comorbidities,pulmonary function,sociodemographic and anthropometric data were collected and quantitative data expressed as mean(standard deviation).
RESULTS:1214 patients met inclusion criteria (age of 66.4(9.7)years,78.7% male,857(70.6%)by PC).The average followed-up time from diagnosis was 8(7.2)years. BMI 27.7(4.1),77% with a BMI>25.54.8% were active smokers.At least 90.9% had one comorbidity with a mean of 2.8(SD 1.8).Most of the patients suffered more than one symptom at the same time.The most prevalent symptom was dyspnea in 92.2%(52.7% grade 0-1,47.3% grade 2-4 in mMRC),followed by chronic cough(83.2%)and chronic sputum(72.2%) and 13.3% had other symptoms.Only 7.2% were asymptomatic.52.8% had chronic respiratory failure,53.5% had suffered an exacerbation in the last year(mean 2.3,SD 1.9)and 18% were hospitalized.Patients included by PC had higher frequency of cough,expectoration,exacerbations and comorbidities than patients included by P.
CONCLUSIONS:At diagnosis COPD patients present with intense symptoms,exacerbations and comorbidities already.This suggests the need to intensify an earlier detection of COPD.
- © 2014 ERS
