Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Korea: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Quality of Life

Abstract

Purpose: This study seeks to examine prevalence, risk factors, and quality of life of Korean adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Methods: From the database of the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV-1, 2008), the researchers selected 1,458 adults over the age of 45. The original study was a populationbased epidemiological survey of health and nutrition with a stratified multistage clustered probability design. Prevalence of COPD was computed on the basis of the sampling weight. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, χ 2 test, t-test and multiple logistic regression with the SPSS WIN 18.0 and SAS Ver. 9.1 program. Results: The prevalence of COPD was 18.0% among people older than 45 yr. The prevalence of current smokers was 19.7% in this population and 26.3% in individuals with COPD. Age, gender, education, and smoking levels were found to be risk factors for COPD. Significant difference in quality of life was founded between adults with COPD and the healthy controls. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that COPD is a highly prevalent disease in Korea. To reduce the prevalence of COPD and improve health-related quality of life in patients with COPD, nursing interventions must focus on prevention of risk factors.

Incapacity, Handicap, and Oxidative Stress Markers of Male Smokers With and Without COPD

“…In the present study, as in others, [54][55][56] compared with the non-COPD group, the COPD group had a significantly worse QOL (see Table 1). For example, Agusti et al 56 found subjects with COPD to have a significantly lower QOL score when compared with control smokers (SGRQ mean Ϯ SD, 50 Ϯ 20 vs 21 Ϯ 12, respectively).…”

Disease burdens from environmental tobacco smoke in Korean adults

“…The relative risk (RR) (or odds ratio) of ETS-related diseases was obtained from previous studies conducted in the Republic of Korea if the data were available (Jee et al 2004;Ko & Han 2010;Jung & Lee 2011). We obtained the RR of death from lung cancer in adults who were current smokers from a nine-year follow-up study conducted in the Republic of Korea (Jee et al 2004).…”

Factors affecting health status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

“…[1][2][3] COPD is a highly incapacitating chronic health problem, which not only affects physical functioning, but also leisure and professional activities as well as emotional and sexual relationships. [7][8][9] It is crucial to determine the factors related to the QOL and their contribution to the QOL in order to develop a care plan. [4][5][6] Previous studies have reported that the QOL is low in patients with COPD.…”

“…[4][5][6] Previous studies have reported that the QOL is low in patients with COPD. [7][8][9] It is crucial to determine the factors related to the QOL and their contribution to the QOL in order to develop a care plan. However, it is unclear which symptoms and physiological measurements lead to decrease in QOL.…”