title: Prevalence of COPD and tobacco smoking in Tunisia--results from the BOLD study.
abstract: In Tunisia, there is a paucity of population-based data on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) prevalence. To address this problem, we estimated the prevalence of COPD following the Burden of Lung Disease Initiative. We surveyed 807 adults aged 40+ years and have collected information on respiratory history and symptoms, risk factors for COPD and quality of life. Post-bronchodilator spirometry was performed and COPD and its stages were defined according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines. Six hundred and sixty one (661) subjects were included in the final analysis. The prevalence of GOLD Stage I and II or higher COPD were 7.8% and 4.2%, respectively (Lower Limit of Normal modified stage I and II or higher COPD prevalence were 5.3% and 3.8%, respectively). COPD was more common in subjects aged 70+ years and in those with a BMI < 20 kg/m2. Prevalence of stage I+ COPD was 2.3% in <10 pack years smoked and 16.1% in 20+ pack years smoked. Only 3.5% of participants reported doctor-diagnosed COPD. In this Tunisian population, the prevalence of COPD is higher than reported before and higher than self-reported doctor-diagnosed COPD. In subjects with COPD, age is a much more powerful predictor of lung function than smoking.
authors.forename: Hager
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Daldoul
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine Ibn El Jazzar, Mohamed Karoui Avenue, Sousse 4000, Tunisia. myriam_denguezli2@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Meriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Denguezli
authors.forename: Anamika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jithoo
authors.forename: Louisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gnatiuc
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buist
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burney
authors.forename: Zouhair
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tabka
authors.forename: Imed
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Harrabi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology