High prevalence of COPD symptoms in the general population contrasting with low awareness of the disease - 22/09/11
, T. Perez b, F. Neukirch c, P. Carré d, P. Terrioux e, D. Pouchain f, J. Ostinelli g, C. Suret h, S. Meleze h, G. Huchon a, i
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Summary |
Introduction |
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is underdiagnosed because of limited disease awareness with trivialization of the symptoms in the general population.
Methods |
A survey was conducted in a representative sample (n=2758) of individuals older than 40years of age in the general population of France. Respiratory symptoms and knowledge about COPD were assessed in individuals with or at risk for COPD (n=860, 31% of the sample).
Results |
In the overall sample, 40% of individuals had a Medical Research Council dyspnea grade of 1 or more but only 9% spontaneously reported shortness of breath. Of these 9%, 72% reported limitations to their daily activities but only 14% believed they had severe lung disease. In the overall sample, only 220 (8%) individuals knew the term COPD and only 66% associated the term COPD with respiratory disease.
Conclusions |
Despite a large proportion of individuals at risk for COPD or having COPD and a high prevalence of breathlessness, awareness of respiratory symptoms and knowledge of COPD were limited. These findings indicate a need for educating the general population about COPD.
El texto completo de este artículo está disponible en PDF.Keywords : COPD, Diagnosis, Knowledge, Awareness, General population, Smoking
Esquema
Vol 28 - N° 7
P. e58-e65 - septembre 2011 Regresar al número
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