title: Prevalence of COPD in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a random sample of individuals 40-80 years old in Abu Dhabi, with a particular interest to explore local risk factors other than cigarette smoking. Airflow limitation compatible with COPD was defined as a post-bronchodilator ratio FEV(1)/FVC <0.70.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 520 participants surveyed (93.7% response rate), 55% male and with a mean age of 52 years, the prevalence of COPD was 3.7% and 95% C.I. (2.0-5.3). There were no differences by gender, and COPD prevalence only significantly increased in those 70 year and older. Among those with COPD, cigarette smoking use was relatively low (12% current- and 12% former-smokers), and it was even lower the use of shisha (5%), pipe (0%), or exposure to passive smoking (5%), while exposure to biomass was higher (33%). Interestingly, bakhour use was very high (78%), but neither bakhour nor any of the above-mentioned exposures were associated with the risk of COPD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COPD prevalence in 40-80 years old in Abu Dhabi was 3.7%, and associations with cigarette smoking or with other local inhaled exposures were not observed.
authors.affiliation: Zayed Military Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Zaabi
authors.forename: Faisal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Asad
authors.forename: Jassem
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abdou
authors.forename: Hussain
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al Musaabi
authors.forename: Mohammad Badar
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Al Saiari
authors.forename: Ali Saeed Mohammed
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Buhussien
authors.forename: Nikolaas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nagelkerke
authors.forename: Joan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Soriano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013147:Spirometry; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology