Smoking cessation program as a tool for the early diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE: The impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is underestimation as a result of underdiagnosis and undertreatment. The objective of this study was to determine whether using spirometry to evaluate smokers enrolled in smoking cessation programs facilitates early diagnosis of COPD. METHODS: The medical records of 158 smokers enrolled in the smoking cessation program at the Botucatu School of Medicine (Botucatu, Brazil) between January of 2003 and November of 2005 were evaluated retrospectively. All were over 40 years old (mean age: 55 +/- 8.5 years), and 99 (62.6%) were female. We analyzed the clinical data, the previous medical diagnosis, and the spirometry results. RESULTS: The diagnostic criteria for COPD were met by 57 (36.1%) of the 158 individuals evaluated, and 14 individuals (8.9%) were considered to be at risk for the development of the disease. Of those 57 individuals meeting the criteria for a diagnosis of COPD, 39 (68.4%) were receiving their first diagnosis of COPD, whereas 18 (31.6%) were receiving confirmation of a prior diagnosis. Of the 18 individuals previously diagnosed, 10 (56%) presented the mild/moderate form of the disease, and 8 (44%) presented the severe form. Of the 39 newly diagnosed individuals, 38 (97,4%) presented the mild/moderate for of the disease, and only 1 (2,6%) had severe COPD. Seven patients previously diagnosed with COPD presented pulmonary function test results inconsistent with the diagnostic criteria. CONCLUSION: Using spirometry in the initial evaluation of smokers enrolling in smoking cessation program might be a useful tool for early diagnosis of COPD.

Programa de cessação de tabagismo como ferramenta para o diagnóstico precoce de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica / Smoking cessation program as a tool for the early diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

OBJETIVO: A doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC) é subdiagnosticada e subtratada, o que resulta em subestimação do impacto da doença. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se a inclusão da espirometria na avaliação dos fumantes que ingressam em programas de cessação do tabagismo contribui para o diagnóstico precoce da DPOC. MÉTODOS: Análise retrospectiva de dados médicos de 158 fumantes atendidos no programa cessação de tabagismo (Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil), de janeiro 2003 a novembro 2005. Todos os indivíduos tinham mais de 40 anos (idade média: 55 ± 8,5 anos), sendo 99 (62,6 por cento) do sexo feminino. Foram analisados os dados clínicos, os diagnósticos médicos prévios e os resultados da espirometria. RESULTADOS: Dos 158 fumantes avaliados, 57 (36,1 por cento) indivíduos preenchiam os critérios diagnósticos para DPOC e 14 (8,9 por cento) foram considerados em risco para o desenvolvimento da doença. Dos 57 que preenchiam os critérios diagnósticos para DPOC, 39 (68,4 por cento) foram diagnósticos novos e 18 (31,6 por cento) foram confirmação de diagnóstico prévio da doença. Entre os 18 com diagnóstico anterior, 10 (56 por cento) tinham doença leve/moderada e 8 (44 por cento) doença grave. Sete pacientes com diagnóstico anterior de DPOC apresentaram resultados de função de pulmonar não compatíveis com os critérios diagnósticos da doença. Entre os 39 novos diagnósticos, 38 (97,4 por cento) eram de doença leve/moderada e apenas 1 (2,6 por cento) tinha DPOC grave CONCLUSÃO: A inclusão da espirometria na avaliação inicial dos fumantes admitidos em programa de cessação de tabagismo pode ser uma ferramenta útil para o diagnóstico precoce da DPOC.

OBJECTIVE: The impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is underestimation as a result of underdiagnosis and undertreatment. The objective of this study was to determine whether using spirometry to evaluate smokers enrolled in smoking cessation programs facilitates early diagnosis of COPD. METHODS: The medical records of 158 smokers enrolled in the smoking cessation program at the Botucatu School of Medicine (Botucatu, Brazil) between January of 2003 and November of 2005 were evaluated retrospectively. All were over 40 years old (mean age: 55 ± 8.5 years), and 99 (62.6 percent) were female. We analyzed the clinical data, the previous medical diagnosis, and the spirometry results. RESULTS: The diagnostic criteria for COPD were met by 57 (36.1 percent) of the 158 individuals evaluated, and 14 individuals (8.9 percent) were considered to be at risk for the development of the disease. Of those 57 individuals meeting the criteria for a diagnosis of COPD, 39 (68.4 percent) were receiving their first diagnosis of COPD, whereas 18 (31.6 percent) were receiving confirmation of a prior diagnosis. Of the 18 individuals previously diagnosed, 10 (56 percent) presented the mild/moderate form of the disease, and 8 (44 percent) presented the severe form. Of the 39 newly diagnosed individuals, 38 (97,4 percent) presented the mild/moderate for of the disease, and only 1 (2,6 percent) had severe COPD. Seven patients previously diagnosed with COPD presented pulmonary function test results inconsistent with the diagnostic criteria. CONCLUSION: Using spirometry in the initial evaluation of smokers enrolling in smoking cessation program might be a useful tool for early diagnosis of COPD.