Smoking cessation program as a tool for the early diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
OBJECTIVE
The impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is underestimation as a result of underdiagnosis and undertreatment. The objective of this study was to determine whether using spirometry to evaluate smokers enrolled in smoking cessation programs facilitates early diagnosis of COPD.


METHODS
The medical records of 158 smokers enrolled in the smoking cessation program at the Botucatu School of Medicine (Botucatu, Brazil) between January of 2003 and November of 2005 were evaluated retrospectively. All were over 40 years old (mean age: 55 +/- 8.5 years), and 99 (62.6%) were female. We analyzed the clinical data, the previous medical diagnosis, and the spirometry results.


RESULTS
The diagnostic criteria for COPD were met by 57 (36.1%) of the 158 individuals evaluated, and 14 individuals (8.9%) were considered to be at risk for the development of the disease. Of those 57 individuals meeting the criteria for a diagnosis of COPD, 39 (68.4%) were receiving their first diagnosis of COPD, whereas 18 (31.6%) were receiving confirmation of a prior diagnosis. Of the 18 individuals previously diagnosed, 10 (56%) presented the mild/moderate form of the disease, and 8 (44%) presented the severe form. Of the 39 newly diagnosed individuals, 38 (97,4%) presented the mild/moderate for of the disease, and only 1 (2,6%) had severe COPD. Seven patients previously diagnosed with COPD presented pulmonary function test results inconsistent with the diagnostic criteria.


CONCLUSIONS
Using spirometry in the initial evaluation of smokers enrolling in smoking cessation program might be a useful tool for early diagnosis of COPD.
Godoy
Ilda de
Id
Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brasil. degodoy@fmb.unesp.br
Tanni
Suzana Erico
SE
Coelho
Liana Sousa
LS
Martin
Rosana Dos Santos e Silva
Rdos S
Parenti
Luciana Cristina
LC
Andrade
Luiz Mauro
LM
Godoy
Irma
I
D000328:Adult; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D013147:Spirometry / Q000379:methods; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology