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. 2007 Jun;16(3):169-73.
doi: 10.3132/pcrj.2007.00028.

The estimated prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a general practice population

Timothy L Frank  1 , Michelle L Hazell, Mary F Linehan, Julie A Morris, Peter I Frank
Affiliations

The estimated prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a general practice population

Timothy L Frank et al. Prim Care Respir J. 2007 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a general practice population in the UK.

Method: Four postal respiratory questionnaire surveys were carried out between 1993 and 2001. Subjects from the 2001 study were invited for spirometry if they were aged 30 years or more, had indicated that they were 'ever smokers' in any of the surveys, and/or had been considered to have likely obstructive airways disease on the basis of their replies to the 2001 questionnaire.

Results: 2646 subjects were invited for spirometry of whom 871 (32.9%) attended. Results were available for 825 participants. 163 of these subjects were categorised as having COPD. The estimated prevalence in the whole population was 4.1% with the highest prevalence (14.7%) in those aged 60-69 years. In those aged over 40 years it was 9.6%.

Conclusion: This study suggests that the prevalence of COPD is much higher than the previous estimates of between 1 and 2%.

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Conflict of interest statement

TF has received fees from GSK, Boehringer Ingelheim, Schering Plough and AstraZeneca for speaking, funds for research from GSK, Boehringer Ingelheim, MSD and Schering Plough, funds for consultancy from GSK and Pharmacia, and travel grants from GSK, Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, Chiesi Pharmaceuticals and MSD.

MH has received a fee from Boehringer Ingelheim for speaking, and travel grants from GSK, Boehringer Ingelheim and MSD

ML has received travel grants from GSK

JM has no conflicts of interest

PF has received fees for attending symposia from GSK and MSD, funds for research from GSK, Boehringer Ingelheim and MSD, and travel grants from GSK, Boehringer Ingelheim and MSD