title: Early detection of COPD in primary care: the Copenhagen COPD screening project.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of a screening programme for COPD in primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects aged 65 years or older registered with a general practitioner in Copenhagen were asked to complete a questionnaire on smoking status and symptoms of COPD. If they were smokers or former smokers or if morning cough with sputum and/or dyspnoea was present, subjects were defined as "at risk of COPD" and were invited to undergo spirometric examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 7103 subjects who met the study criteria, 81.2% responded to the questionnaire. Of these, 58.5% were at risk of COPD. Of those at risk, 40% underwent a spirometric examination. COPD was classified as mild in 252 (42.3%), moderate in 258 (43.3%) and severe-very severe in 86 subjects (14.4%). The participation rate was significantly higher among subjects invited for spirometry at a healthcare centre compared to general practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that a questionnaire can be used as a screening tool to identify subjects at risk of COPD. Furthermore, the study shows that more than half the subjects aged 65 years and above were at risk of COPD and required clinical assessment. Willingness to undergo spirometric examination depends on the location of the screening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrated Healthcare, Bisbebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. alyn0005@bbh.regionh.dk
authors.forename: Anne Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lyngsø
authors.forename: Vibeke
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gottlieb
authors.forename: Vibeke
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Backer
authors.forename: Birgitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nybo
authors.forename: Marianne S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Østergaard
authors.forename: Henrik L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frølich
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking; D013147:Spirometry; D013183:Sputum; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires