title: High prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among veterans in the urban midwest.
abstract: Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality within the Veterans Health care Administration, its prevalence and recognition are not known. We measured airflow limitation and diagnosed COPD at the Cincinnati Veteran's Administration Medical Center. Participants were 326 outpatients who performed spirometry and completed questionnaires. Health care-provider-diagnosis and self-diagnosis of COPD were compared with COPD defined by forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) < 0.7 (fixed ratio) and (FEV1/FVC)/lower limit of normal (LLN) < 1.0. COPD prevalence was 43% (95% confidence interval: 36.9, 48.1) by fixed ratio and 33% (95% confidence interval: 27.2, 36.8) by LLN. Eighteen percent of the patients had health care-provider-recorded and 23% had self-reported diagnoses of COPD. Positive predictive values for the diagnosis of COPD were 79% and 64% for healthcare providers versus 68% and 62% for patients; negative predictive values were 64% and 74% for healthcare providers versus 64% and 76% for patients (fixed ratio and LLN, respectively). COPD prevalence is higher among Cincinnati veterans than among general U.S. population. COPD is under-recognized by both health care providers and veterans.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Division, Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 3200 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Zeshan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chaudhry
authors.forename: Khalid F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Almoosa
authors.forename: Ralph J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Panos
mesh_terms: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D009790:Occupations; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents