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. 2015 Aug;12(4):355-65.
doi: 10.3109/15412555.2014.948998.

Prevalence of Airflow Obstruction in U.S. Adults Aged 40-79 Years: NHANES Data 1988-1994 and 2007-2010

Brent Doney  1 , Eva Hnizdo, Charles F Dillon, Ryne Paulose-Ram, Timothy Tilert, Michael Wolz, Lu-Ann Beeckman-Wagner
Affiliations

Prevalence of Airflow Obstruction in U.S. Adults Aged 40-79 Years: NHANES Data 1988-1994 and 2007-2010

Brent Doney et al. COPD. 2015 Aug.

Abstract

Background: The study evaluated the change in the prevalence of airflow obstruction in the U.S. population 40-79 years of age from years 1988-1994 to 2007-2010.

Methods: Spirometry data from two representative samples of the U.S. population, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) conducted in 1988-1994 and 2007-2010, were used. The American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS) criteria were used to define airflow obstruction.

Results: Based on ATS/ERS criteria, the overall age-adjusted prevalence of airflow obstruction among adults aged 40-79 years decreased from 16.6% to 14.5% (p < 0.05). Significant decreases were observed for the older age category 60-69 years (20.2% vs. 15.4%; p < 0.01), for males (19.0% vs. 15.4%; p < 0.01), and for Mexican American adults (12.7% vs. 8.4%; p < 0.001). The prevalence of moderate and more severe airflow obstruction decreased also (6.4% vs. 4.4%; p < 0.01). Based on ATS/ERS criteria, during 2007-2010, an estimated 18.3 million U.S. adults 40-79 years had airflow obstruction, 5.6 million had moderate or severe airflow obstruction and 1.4 million had severe airflow obstruction.

Conclusions: The overall age-adjusted prevalence of airflow obstruction among U.S. adults aged 40-79 years decreased from 1988-1994 to 2007-2010, especially among older adults, Mexican Americans, and males.

Keywords: NHANES; airflow obstruction; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; spirometry.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of airflow obstruction by severity, by age category, by time period. ATS/ERS Mild+: Mild or more severe airflow obstruction. ATS/ERS Moderate+: Moderate or more severe airflow obstruction. *Modified GOLD criteria. GOLD Stage 1: Mild or more severe airflow obstruction. GOLD Stage 2: Moderate or more severe airflow obstruction.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Z-score for FEV1 by age; −1.645 line is the lower limit of normal – 5th percentile; Short dashed line connects the mean z-score for each age category in relation to zero; Long dashed line connects the mean LLN for each age category.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Z-score for FVC by age; −1.645 line is the lower limit of normal – 5th percentile; Short dashed line connects the mean z-score for each age category in relation to zero; Long dashed line connects the mean LLN for each age category.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Z-score for ratio by age; −1.645 line is the lower limit of normal – 5th percentile; Short dashed line connects the mean z-score for each age category in relation to zero; Long dashed line connects the mean LLN for each age category.
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