title: [The importance of dyspnoea in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease--a descriptive analysis of a stable cohort in Portugal (SAFE trial)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine patient-perceived characteristics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in patients participating in a large trial evaluating tiotropium bromide.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline symptoms were assessed by means of a standardized questionnaire. Patients reported symptoms that led to diagnosis as well as their current most troublesome symptom.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were obtained from 298 patients, mostly male (95%), with mean (standard deviation) baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 1.1 (0.4) L (40.6 [13.3] % of predicted), mean disease duration of 14.4 (10.1) years and smoking history of 55.1 (25.3) pack-years. Dyspnoea was the most frequently reported symptom leading to COPD diagnosis (55.0% of patients), followed by cough (33.2%). Dyspnoea was also the current most troublesome symptom (82.6%), followed by cough (8.4%). The presence of dyspnoea or cough was independent of COPD severity. The most commonly reported co-morbidities were cardiovascular disorders (49% of patients), gastrointestinal disorders (20%) and metabolic disorders (16%), mainly diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This analysis confirms the importance of dyspnoea as the most common symptom leading to initial COPD diagnosis and the symptom most troublesome to patients. Co-morbidities are common among COPD patients, and hence spirometric testing is appropriate in a patient who presents with dyspnoea associated with such a condition.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Pneumologia II do Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Norte, E.P.E. - Hospital Pulido Valente, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal. cristina.barbara@chln.min-saude.pt
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bárbara
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moita
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Redondeiro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaspar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011174:Portugal; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*