title: Respiratory symptoms and illness in older Australians: the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among people aged 40 years or older in Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of people in the community aged ≥ 40 years, selected at random using electoral rolls, in six sites chosen to reflect the sociodemographic and geographic diversity of Australia, conducted between 2006 and 2010. Standardised questionnaires were administered by interview. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), and the FEV1/FVC ratio were measured by spirometry, before and after bronchodilator administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence of COPD, classified according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2006 criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete data were available for 1620 men (participation rate, 26%) and 1737 women (participation rate, 28%). The prevalence of GOLD Stage II or higher COPD (defined as post-bronchodilator FEV₁/FVC ratio < 0.70 and FEV₁ < 80% predicted) was 7.5% (95% CI, 5.7%-9.4%) among people aged ≥ 40 years, and 29.2% (95% CI, 18.1%-40.2%) among those aged ≥ 75 years. Among people aged ≥ 40 years, the prevalence of wheeze in the past 12 months was 30.0% (95% CI, 27.5%-32.5%), and prevalence of shortness of breath when hurrying on the level or climbing a slight hill was 25.2% (95% CI, 22.7%-27.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symptoms and spirometric evidence of COPD are common among people aged 40 years or older and increase with age. Further research is needed to better understand the diagnosis and management of COPD in Australia, along with continuing efforts to prevent the disease.
authors: Department of Respiratory and Environmental Epidemiology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia. brett.toelle@woolcock.org.au
authors: Brett G
authors: BG
authors: Toelle
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Xuan
authors: Tessa E
authors: TE
authors: Bird
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Abramson
authors: David N
authors: DN
authors: Atkinson
authors: Deborah L
authors: DL
authors: Burton
authors: Alan L
authors: AL
authors: James
authors: Christine R
authors: CR
authors: Jenkins
authors: David P
authors: DP
authors: Johns
authors: Graeme P
authors: GP
authors: Maguire
authors: A W Bill
authors: AW
authors: Musk
authors: E Haydn
authors: EH
authors: Walters
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Wood-Baker
authors: Michael L
authors: ML
authors: Hunter
authors: Bruce J
authors: BJ
authors: Graham
authors: Phillipa J
authors: PJ
authors: Southwell
authors: William M
authors: WM
authors: Vollmer
authors: A Sonia
authors: AS
authors: Buist
authors: Guy B
authors: GB
authors: Marks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014797:Vital Capacity