High prevalence of COPD symptoms in the general population contrasting with low awareness of the disease.
Rev Mal Respir
; 28(7): e58-65, 2011 Sep.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21943548
ABSTRACT
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 40 years 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.
Texto completo:
1
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
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Etiology_studies
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Prevalence_studies
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Qualitative_research
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Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Rev Mal Respir
Año:
2011
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Francia