Prevalence of airflow obstruction in smokers and never-smokers in Switzerland

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to measure age-specific prevalence of airflow obstruction in Switzerland in smokers and never-smokers using pulmonary function tests and respiratory symptoms from 6,126 subjects participating in the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in Adults.The lower limit of normal of the forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity ratio was used to define airflow obstruction. Severity of airflow obstruction was graded according to the recommendations of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease.Prevalence of airflow obstruction ranged from 2.5% in subjects aged 30-39 yrs to 8.0% in those aged o70 yrs. In multivariate analysis, age (OR 2.8, o70 yrs versus 30-39 yrs), smoking (OR 1.8) and asthma (OR 6.7) were associated with airflow obstruction. Never-smokers constituted 29.3% of subjects with airflow obstruction. Never-smokers with airflow obstruction were younger, more likely to be male and reported asthma more frequently than obstructive smokers. Obstructive smokers and never-smokers had similar level of symptoms and quality of life impairment.The prevalence of airflow obstruction in Switzerland is similar to other developed countries. Never-smokers account for a third of the prevalence, which is higher proportion than elsewhere. Airflow obstruction in never-smokers deserves attention because of its frequency and its similar health impact to that in smokers.

Performance Measures in the Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Primary Care – A Retrospective Analysis

“…The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Switzerland is approximately 10%, comparable to other European countries (1,2). COPD is associated with high morbidity, increased mortality and enormous economic costs (1,4).…”

“…COPD is associated with high morbidity, increased mortality and enormous economic costs (1,4). COPD has therefore became a focus of the "QualiCCare" project, initiated by the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) in 2011 with the aim to improve quality in chronic disease care on a national level.…”

Pulmonary involvement in Fabry disease: Overview and perspectives

“…In an epidemiological study with 6126 subjects participating in the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in (healthy) Adults (SAPALDIA), the prevalence of airflow obstruction of any cause (FEV1/FVC < 0.70) in the nearly same age group (between 30 and 39 years) was 0.9% in women and 3.4% in men [27]. Also, the proportion of obstructive lung defect in patients with FD is comparably higher than the prevalence of COPD in the general population ranging from 5.1% to 16.7% in women, and from 8.5% to 22.2% in men [29].…”

“…In contrast, the definitions of both the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) [24] and ATS/ERS guidelines on chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) [25] suggest referring the FEV1 to the forced (expiratory) vital capacity (FVC) with a fixed cut-off value of below 0.70. The latter definition is considered to overestimate obstructive lung disease in older people with no history of exposure to noxious particles or fumes [26,27]. However, the cut-off value of 0.70 is straight 6 6 forward and easy to measure, with a greater prevalence of obstructive lung disease when using the fixed value of FEV1/FVC compared to the lower limit of normal [28].…”

Do Birth Season and Sex Affect Adult Lung Function as Early Life Factors?

“…Traditionally, COPD has been regarded a male-specific disease owing to the difference in the prevalence of smokers between the sexes [22]. Although there is controversy about the association between sex and the incidence of COPD according to country [23] [24], male sex was found to be an independent risk factor for COPD after adjustment for smoking in Korea (prevalence of COPD among nonsmokers: male 14.6% vs. female 7.6%) [25]. Furthermore, accumulating evidence suggests that sex has an impact on the incidence and severity of and susceptibility to COPD.…”