Can age and sex explain the variation in COPD rates across large urban cities? A population study in Canada
METHOD: We used the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) methodology to estimate the prevalence of COPD in adults aged ≥40 years in different Canadian cities. The study used interviewer-administered questionnaires on respiratory, smoking and occupational history, medication use and comorbidities. Post-bronchodilator spirometry was used to classify subjects. We determined the prevalence and severity of COPD with and without adjustments for age and sex distribution across different cities.
RESULTS: The study population was 3042. Overall, 16.7% (95%CI 14.8–18.7) of study subjects met the cri- teria for Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) severity Stage 1 or higher. The prevalence according to the criteria for the lower limits of normal of the ratio forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity was 11.6% (95%CI 9.9–13.3). COPD prevalence varied by severity across site (P = 0.0025). After age-sex adjustment, the variation disappeared (P> 0.16).
CONCLUSION: Age and sex differences account for most of the heterogeneity in COPD estimates across large cities within the same country. Adjustments for age and sex are essential in comparing COPD rates across the country.
Keywords: AGE; COPD; PREVALENCE; SEX
Document Type: Short Communication
Affiliations: 1: University of British Columbia James Hogg Research Laboratories, Providence Heart and Lung Institute, St Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 2: Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit, Montreal Chest Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada 3: Division of Respiratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 4: Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada 5: Division of Respiratory Medicine, The Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 6: Respiratory Division, Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada 7: Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
Publication date: 01 December 2011
The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is for clinical research and epidemiological studies on lung health, including articles on TB, TB-HIV and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, child lung health and the hazards of tobacco and air pollution. Individuals and institutes can subscribe to the IJTLD online or in print – simply email us at [email protected] for details.
The IJTLD is dedicated to understanding lung disease and to the dissemination of knowledge leading to better lung health. To allow us to share scientific research as rapidly as possible, the IJTLD is fast-tracking the publication of certain articles as preprints prior to their publication. Read fast-track articles.
- Editorial Board
- Information for Authors
- Subscribe to this Title
- International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
- Public Health Action
- Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites
Receive new issue alert- Access Key
- Free content
- Partial Free content
- New content
- Open access content
- Partial Open access content
- Subscribed content
- Partial Subscribed content
- Free trial content