TY - JOUR T1 - A detached island residents' smoking habits and their prevalence of COPD JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 40 IS - Suppl 56 SP - P979 AU - Yorihide Yanagita AU - Kahori Oue AU - Takako Tanaka AU - Hideaki Senjyu Y1 - 2012/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P979.abstract N2 - [BACKGROUND]The prevalence of COPD is high worldwide. It has been reported that the prevalence rate of subjects aged 40 years and over is about 8.6% in Japan. However, no reports have examined the prevalence of COPD by region, such as whether there are differences in subjects living in urban areas, or on a detached island.[AIMS AND OBJECTIVES]The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the region (mainland versus a detached island)on the general population's smoking habits and the prevalence of COPD or respiratory function. A general population of 5221 subjects was targeted.[METHODS]All of the candidates' health survey items (age, sex, body composition, smoking habit, Brinkman Index, respiratory function and COPD disease) were investigated. Candidates were classified into a mainland group and a detached island group according to the location of the institution that performed their medical checkup, and each health survey item and respiratory function parameter were compared.For the statistical analysis, two-sample t-tests, chi-square tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used.[RESULTS]The former smoker' rate (mainland 51.7% vs detached island 73.7%,p<0.001) and Brinkman Index (mainland 322.0±494.7 vs detached island 406.2±446.7,p<0.001) were higher in the detached island group. Nevertheless, the prevalence of COPD was lower in the detached island group (mainland 8.5% vs detached island 7.0%,p<0.05).[CONCLUSIONS]According to the guidelines of the GOLD, tobacco smoke is a primary factor related to the development of COPD. Our findongs indicate that the living environment is also related to the prevalence of COPD. ER -