CMAJ OPEN, 3(1) E15Research CMAJ OPEN C hronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a substantial source of morbidity and mortality in Canada and globally. Estimates place the worldwide prevalence at 9%-10% from physiologic-based studies and 3%-8% from studies based on physician-or patient-reported diagnosis or symptoms.1,2 Globally, COPD is rated as the fifth leading cause of death, and ninth in contributions to loss of disability-adjusted life years.3,4 A recent systematic review of COPD epidemiology worldwide identified 12 Canadian studies, which produced prevalence estimates that ranged from 3% to 12%, depending on the method used.5 Canadian data from a study using spirometry to screen a populationbased sample suggest a rate of about 10%. 6 There are limited data on COPD either alone or in combination with other chronic diseases from primary care settings.In other countries, the limited reports on COPD prevalence in primary care settings show marked variation depending on the method of identification of illness. A study from the United Kingdom based on electronic records in the Computerized Patient Records Database found the prevalence of physician-diagnosed COPD to be less than 1% for women and only 1.35% for men.7 Another practice-based research network study from the UK that invited participants in a postal survey to come for spirometry if they had either symptoms or a smoking history found a much higher prevalence (4.1% overall, 9.6% in patients over 40 yr).8 A recent Spanish study using data from electronic medical records (EMRs) found a physician-diagnosed prevalence of 3.2%, 90% of whom were also found to have at least 1 comorbid condition. Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is mostly managed within primary care, but there is little Canadian evidence from this setting. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of physician-diagnosed COPD in primary care practices, and the degree of comorbidity with other chronic conditions, and to assess patterns of medication prescribing.
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