[The rate of airflow limitation among the elderly undergoing spirometry in a university hospital].
The aim of this study was to examine the rate of airflow limitation among the elderly undergoing spirometry prior to surgical operation, and to evaluate whether or not spirometry is useful for the early detection of COPD. A total of 3,086 patients (1,717 men and 1,369 women) ranging in age from 40 to 93 underwent screening spirometry from January to December 2003 in Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital. Among the total population, 2,135 patients (1,188 men and 947 women) were ordered to undergo the spirometry prior to surgical operation, airflow limitation (FEV1/FVC < 70%) was observed in 19.5% (n=417) of the cases and was considerably more frequent in men than in women(27.0%[n=321] vs. 10.1%[n=96]). The rate of FEV1/FVC < 70% in those 2,135 patients increased with age: 6.2%, 9.9%, 19.2%, 32.5% and 34.1% of patients in their 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and over, respectively. Among the patients with airflow limitation, 35% of the cases revealed FEV1 > or = 80% predicted; 50%, 50 < or = FEV1 < 80% predicted; 14%, 30 < or = FEV1 < 50% predicted; 1%, FEV1 < 30% predicted. Patients with mild to moderate airflow limitation rarely consulted the pulmonary medicine department. The prevalence of airflow limitation was more frequent among in- and out-patients than in the random sample population. Spirometry prior to surgical operation is useful for the early detection of COPD and these data could be an important source for medical staff seeking a definitive diagnosis of patients revealing airflow limitation.
The Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519.
Naoko
N
Tojo
Takeshi
T
Umino
Nobuyuki
N
Miyasaka
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013147:Spirometry; D014797:Vital Capacity