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
Corresponding author.
Bienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
Article gratuit.
Connectez-vous pour en bénéficier!
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.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Keywords : COPD, Diagnosis, Knowledge, Awareness, General population, Smoking
Plan
Vol 28 - N° 7
P. e58-e65 - septembre 2011 Retour au numéro
Article précédent
- Home-based pulmonary rehabilitation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- B. Rammaert, S. Leroy, B. Cavestri, B. Wallaert, J.-M. Grosbois
- Erratum à « Société de pneumologie de langue française. Recommandations pour la prise en charge de la BPCO : mise à jour 2009 » [Rev Mal Respir 27 (2010) 522–48 ; Rev Mal Respir 27 (Suppl. 1) (2010) S1–76, I-XXXI]
Bienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.