title: [Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Korea: prevalence, risk factors, and quality of life].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study seeks to examine prevalence, risk factors, and quality of life of Korean adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  From the database of the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV-1, 2008), the researchers selected 1,458 adults over the age of 45. The original study was a population-based epidemiological survey of health and nutrition with a stratified multistage clustered probability design. Prevalence of COPD was computed on the basis of the sampling weight. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, χ(2) test, t-test and multiple logistic regression with the SPSS WIN 18.0 and SAS Ver. 9.1 program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of COPD was 18.0% among people older than 45 yr. The prevalence of current smokers was 19.7% in this population and 26.3% in individuals with COPD. Age, gender, education, and smoking levels were found to be risk factors for COPD. Significant difference in quality of life was founded between adults with COPD and the healthy controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that COPD is a highly prevalent disease in Korea. To reduce the prevalence of COPD and improve health-related quality of life in patients with COPD, nursing interventions must focus on prevention of risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Heeyoung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011788:Quality of Life; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires