Author/Editor		Gržetić-Romčević, Tanja; Devčić, Boris; Šonc, Silvana; Terčelj, Marjeta
Title		Pomen zgodnjega odkrivanja kronične obstruktivne pljučne bolezni
Translated title		The importance of early detection of COPD
Type		članek
Source		Zdrav Vestn
Vol. and No.		Letnik 77, št. 2
Publication year		2008
Volume		str. 111-6
Language		slo
Abstract		The prevalence of COPD in the Slovenian population is unknown. The aim of this investigation was to determine the usefulness of spirometric screening for early detection of COPD. Our study was performed from 1st January 2004 to 30th June 2006 on 476 randomly selected individuals, from the population of 12, 002 inhabitants of Sežana, which is a semiurban region of Slovenia. The selected subjects were above 40 years of age (252,females and 224 males). The diagnosis of COPD was made using clinical and spirometric data. The participants completed a questionnaire and a spirometry was performed pre- and postbronchodilation. Subjects with FEV*/FVC < 0. 70 were defined as having COPD (GOLD guidelines). The prevalence of COPD in the group investigated was 9.8 % (4 % among, females and 16.5 among males). Among smokers the prevalence was 18.8 % as compared to non-smokers with 2.9%. Smoking intensity and higher age were related to a higher prevalence among females as well as males. A high proportion of those diagnosed with mild COPD (82%) were unaware of having the disease. Conclusions The results suggest that spirometry screening is useful to detect early forms of COPD and that COPD is still poorly recognised in Slovenia. In our opinion, spirometry should be used routinely in primary care in individuals at risk for COPD.
Descriptors		LUNG DISEASES, OBSTRUCTIVE SMOKING SPIROMETRY FORCED EXPIRATORY FLOW RATES FORCED EXPIRATORY VOLUME PREVALENCE