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. 2011 Apr;105(4):566-70.
doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2010.12.008. Epub 2011 Jan 7.

Prevalence of COPD in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Ashraf Al Zaabi  1 , Faisal Asad, Jassem Abdou, Hussain Al Musaabi, Mohammad Badar Al Saiari, Ali Saeed Mohammed Buhussien, Nikolaas Nagelkerke, Joan B Soriano
Affiliations
Free article

Prevalence of COPD in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Ashraf Al Zaabi et al. Respir Med. 2011 Apr.
Free article

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates is unknown.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a random sample of individuals 40-80 years old in Abu Dhabi, with a particular interest to explore local risk factors other than cigarette smoking. Airflow limitation compatible with COPD was defined as a post-bronchodilator ratio FEV(1)/FVC <0.70.

Results: From 520 participants surveyed (93.7% response rate), 55% male and with a mean age of 52 years, the prevalence of COPD was 3.7% and 95% C.I. (2.0-5.3). There were no differences by gender, and COPD prevalence only significantly increased in those 70 year and older. Among those with COPD, cigarette smoking use was relatively low (12% current- and 12% former-smokers), and it was even lower the use of shisha (5%), pipe (0%), or exposure to passive smoking (5%), while exposure to biomass was higher (33%). Interestingly, bakhour use was very high (78%), but neither bakhour nor any of the above-mentioned exposures were associated with the risk of COPD.

Conclusions: COPD prevalence in 40-80 years old in Abu Dhabi was 3.7%, and associations with cigarette smoking or with other local inhaled exposures were not observed.

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