Voluntary lung function screening to reveal new COPD cases in southern Italy

Background: Underdiagnosis of COPD is a relevant issue, and most frequently involves patients at early stages of the disease. Physicians do not routinely recommend smokers to undergo spirometry, unless they are symptomatic. Aims: To investigate the effectiveness of voluntary lung function screening in bringing to light patients with previously unknown COPD and to evaluate the relationships among symptoms, smoking status, and airway obstruction. Methods: A voluntary screening study for COPD was conducted during two editions of the annual Fiera del Levante (2014 and 2015), an international trade fair in Bari. Subjects were eligible for the study if they fulfilled the following inclusion criteria: age â¥35 years, smoker/ex-smoker â¥5 pack-years (PYs), or at least one chronic respiratory symptom (cough, sputum production, shortness of breath, and wheezing). A free post-β2-agonist spirometry test was performed by trained physicians for each participant using portable spirometers. Post-β2-agonist forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1):forced vital capacity ratio <0.7 was chosen to establish the diagnosis of COPD. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values (NPVs and PPVs) of symptoms for the presence of obstruction were calculated. Results: A total of 1,920 individuals were eligible for the study; 188 subjects (9.8%) met COPD criteria. There was a 10.4% prevalence of COPD in subjects with one or more symptoms who had never smoked or smoked â¤5 PYs. Among COPD patients, prevalence of symptoms increased in the presence of FEV1<80%. COPD smokers were more symptomatic than smokers without COPD. Sensitivity and specificity in all subjects with one or more symptoms were 87% and 32%, respectively, whereas in smoker subgroups, sensitivity and specificity were 71% and 41% (â¥5 PYs) and 74% and 35% (â¥10 PYs), respectively. In all subjects, the presence of at least one symptom was associated with a low PPV for COPD of 11%, but a very high NPV (96%). These data did not change if the analysis was limited to smokers. Conclusion: Voluntary public lung function screening programs in Italy are effective, and may detect a large number of undiagnosed subjects with COPD in early stages. In our population, COPD symptoms had low specificity and PPV, even considering smokers only

Voluntary lung function screening to reveal new COPD cases in southern Italy

Background: Underdiagnosis of COPD is a relevant issue, and most frequently involves patients at early stages of the disease. Physicians do not routinely recommend smokers to undergo spirometry, unless they are symptomatic. Aims: To investigate the effectiveness of voluntary lung function screening in bringing to light patients with previously unknown COPD and to evaluate the relationships among symptoms, smoking status, and airway obstruction. Methods: A voluntary screening study for COPD was conducted during two editions of the annual Fiera del Levante (2014 and 2015), an international trade fair in Bari. Subjects were eligible for the study if they fulfilled the following inclusion criteria: age â¥35 years, smoker/ex-smoker â¥5 pack-years (PYs), or at least one chronic respiratory symptom (cough, sputum production, shortness of breath, and wheezing). A free post-Î22-agonist spirometry test was performed by trained physicians for each participant using portable spirometers. Post-Î22-agonist forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1):forced vital capacity ratio <0.7 was chosen to establish the diagnosis of COPD. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values (NPVs and PPVs) of symptoms for the presence of obstruction were calculated. Results: A total of 1,920 individuals were eligible for the study; 188 subjects (9.8%) met COPD criteria. There was a 10.4% prevalence of COPD in subjects with one or more symptoms who had never smoked or smoked â¤5 PYs. Among COPD patients, prevalence of symptoms increased in the presence of FEV1<80%. COPD smokers were more symptomatic than smokers without COPD. Sensitivity and specificity in all subjects with one or more symptoms were 87% and 32%, respectively, whereas in smoker subgroups, sensitivity and specificity were 71% and 41% (â¥5 PYs) and 74% and 35% (â¥10 PYs), respectively. In all subjects, the presence of at least one symptom was associated with a low PPV for COPD of 11%, but a very high NPV (96%). These data did not change if the analysis was limited to smokers. Conclusion: Voluntary public lung function screening programs in Italy are effective, and may detect a large number of undiagnosed subjects with COPD in early stages. In our population, COPD symptoms had low specificity and PPV, even considering smokers only

Clinical and Functional Lung Parameters Associated With Frequent Exacerbator Phenotype in Subjects With Severe COPD

COPD is currently recognized as a syndrome associated with a high prevalence of comorbidities and various phenotypes. Exacerbations are very important events in the clinical history of COPD because they drive the decline in lung function. In the present study, we aim to identify whether there are any clinical and functional specific features of frequent exacerbators in a population of patients with severe COPD

The association of patient-reported symptoms and clinical and lung function parameters in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in stable phase

Objectives: Few 'real-life' studies were conducted on the relationship between functional and clinical features in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We described the correlation between clinical and functional respiratory parameters in one-year follow-up observational study during stable phase COPD and regular inhalation therapy.Methods: In 237 patients, the impact of respiratory symptoms was evaluated using the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, the COPD assessment test (CAT), and a self-assessment of patient's perceived COPD severity (Mapel scale) at baseline (T0) and after one year (T1).Results: Mean CAT and mMRC scores at T0 were 10.55 and 1.2, respectively. The majority of patients pointed out mild symptoms (values between 1 and 2 at Mapel scale). Mean CAT score at T0 did not differ after subdividing our population in the four spirometry GOLD stages. In the year of follow-up, FEV1 and hyperinflation indexes improved. CAT score was significantly associated with mMRC (p < 0.001), residual volume (RV) (p = 0.023), and RV/total lung capacity % (p = 0.011).Conclusion: The impact of symptoms in COPD stable patients was related to hyperinflation indexes and mMRC. There was no correlation between significant changes in CAT score and other symptom evaluation scores after one year

Metabolic syndrome and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): The interplay among smoking, insulin resistance and vitamin D

A close relationship between Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has been described, but the exact nature of this link remains unclear. Current epidemiological data refer exclusively to the MetS prevalence among patients with COPD and data about the prevalence of COPD in MetS patients are still unavailable

Baseline characteristics of the total study population.

<p>Baseline characteristics of the total study population.</p

Correlation between serum levels of Vitamin D and C-peptide.

<p>Each symbol identifies a single individual.</p