TY - JOUR
T1 - Non-reversible airway obstruction in never smokers
T2 - Results from the Austrian BOLD study
AU - Lamprecht, B.
AU - Schirnhofer, L.
AU - Kaiser, B.
AU - Buist, S.
AU - Studnicka, M.
N1 - Funding Information:
The BOLD project in Salzburg, Austria, was funded by unrestricted grants from Altana; Astra-Zeneca; Boehringer-Ingelheim; GlaxoSmithKline; Merck, Sharpe & Dohme; Pfizer; and Novartis. GlaxoSmithKline also provided in-kind contributions. The study was supported by the “Salzburger Gebietskrankenkasse” (local public health insurance) and the local government of Salzburg.
PY - 2008/12
Y1 - 2008/12
N2 - Background: The presence of non-reversible airway obstruction (AO) in never smokers has only received limited attention until now. Methods: We analyzed data from the Austrian Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study. We defined non-reversible AO as post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC <0.7 which corresponds to COPD I and higher (COPD I+) according to current GOLD guidelines. Significant AO was defined as FEV1/FVC <0.7 and FEV1 <80% predicted (GOLD II and higher, GOLD II+). The prevalence and characteristics of non-reversible AO in never smokers were analyzed in relation to the severity of the disease. Results: Never smokers comprised 47.3% of the study population. Non-reversible AO was seen in 18.2% of never smokers, and 5.5% of never smokers fulfilled criteria for significant non-reversible AO (GOLD stage II+). Therefore, the resulting population prevalence of significant non-reversible AO (GOLD stage II+) was 2.6%. Never smokers with non-reversible AO were predominantly female and slightly older. The airway obstruction was found to be less severe as compared with ever smokers. Despite this, 20% of never smokers with significant non-reversible AO (GOLD stage II+) reported respiratory symptoms and 50% reported impairment of quality of life. This burden of illness in never smokers was similar to that in smokers when severity of AO was taken into account. Conclusion: Approximately every third subject with non-reversible AO has never smoked, yet still demonstrates a substantial burden of symptoms and impairment of quality of life. Never smokers should receive far greater attention when efforts are undertaken to prevent and treat chronic airway obstruction.
AB - Background: The presence of non-reversible airway obstruction (AO) in never smokers has only received limited attention until now. Methods: We analyzed data from the Austrian Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study. We defined non-reversible AO as post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC <0.7 which corresponds to COPD I and higher (COPD I+) according to current GOLD guidelines. Significant AO was defined as FEV1/FVC <0.7 and FEV1 <80% predicted (GOLD II and higher, GOLD II+). The prevalence and characteristics of non-reversible AO in never smokers were analyzed in relation to the severity of the disease. Results: Never smokers comprised 47.3% of the study population. Non-reversible AO was seen in 18.2% of never smokers, and 5.5% of never smokers fulfilled criteria for significant non-reversible AO (GOLD stage II+). Therefore, the resulting population prevalence of significant non-reversible AO (GOLD stage II+) was 2.6%. Never smokers with non-reversible AO were predominantly female and slightly older. The airway obstruction was found to be less severe as compared with ever smokers. Despite this, 20% of never smokers with significant non-reversible AO (GOLD stage II+) reported respiratory symptoms and 50% reported impairment of quality of life. This burden of illness in never smokers was similar to that in smokers when severity of AO was taken into account. Conclusion: Approximately every third subject with non-reversible AO has never smoked, yet still demonstrates a substantial burden of symptoms and impairment of quality of life. Never smokers should receive far greater attention when efforts are undertaken to prevent and treat chronic airway obstruction.
KW - Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease Study
KW - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
KW - Health-related quality of life
KW - Never smoker
KW - Non-reversible airway obstruction
KW - Respiratory symptoms
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U2 - 10.1016/j.rmed.2008.07.007
DO - 10.1016/j.rmed.2008.07.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 18722100
AN - SCOPUS:55649107705
SN - 0954-6111
VL - 102
SP - 1833
EP - 1838
JO - Respiratory Medicine
JF - Respiratory Medicine
IS - 12
ER -