title: [A test for initial diagnosis of COPD in patients with chronic cough and exercise dyspnea (population study)].
abstract: The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the usefulness of spirometry as a screening test in the initial diagnosis of COPD in patients with chronic cough and exercise dyspnea. We encouraged people living in Lublin to the participation in this trial using local media. We examined 647 subjects, 329 (51%) females and 318 (49%) males between the ages of 14 and 89 years (average 55 y.). Among females there were: 73 smokers (22%), 51 former smokers (15%) and 205 non smokers (63%), among males respective numbers were: 112 (35.2%), 119 (37.4% and 87 (27.4%). 230 women (70%) and 230 men (72%) had clinical symptoms of COPD. The severity of bronchial obstruction was classified according to ERS recommendations. In females mild obstruction was found in 24 (7.3%), moderate in 80 (24.3%) and severe in 20(6.1%). In men mild obstruction was found in 15 subjects (4.7%), moderate in 80 (24.3%) and severe in 38 (11.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1. Spirometry revealed that 35% of all examined subjects had an airway obstruction in majority of moderate and severe severity. 2. Spirometry is a very good and sensitive screening test in the diagnosis of COPD.
authors.affiliation: Katedry i Kliniki Chorób Płuc i Gruźlicy AM w Lublinie.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Remiszewski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Milanowski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zieliński
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D003371:Cough / Q000453:epidemiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013147:Spirometry