title: Case-finding of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with questionnaire, peak flow measurements and spirometry: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spirometry is commonly accepted as the gold standard for the diagnosis of COPD, but the reality remains that quality assured spirometry is not or cannot be provided universally around the globe. Adding PEF measurement to a screening questionnaire may rule out airflow limitation compatible with COPD rationalizing spirometry testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a sample of individuals 40-80 yrs. old in Dubai, UAE. They were invited to answer a short socio-demographic questionnaire including a report on current, past history of smoking, and had PEF measured, then they conducted spirometry to identify airflow limitation compatible with COPD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 525 (91.0%) participants performed PEF and spirometry (68% male, with a mean age of 59 years, 17% UAE Nationals), 24% reported smoking of different sorts. Overall, 68 participants (12.9%, 95% C.I. 10.3% to 16.1%) had airflow limitation compatible with COPD. PEFR alone identified 141 participants with airflow limitation compatible with COPD, with specificity of 80% and sensitivity of 73.5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PEFR could be an easy, cheap, and non-biased tool to assist with the case-finding of COPD before confirmation with spirometry.
authors.affiliation: Department in Rashid Hospital, Pulmonary medicine, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. drbassam_mahboub@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Bassam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mahboub
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alzaabi
authors.forename: Joan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.forename: Laila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salameh
authors.forename: Yousef A L
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Mutairi
authors.forename: Afzalhussein A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Yusufali
authors.forename: Alawi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alsheikh-ali
authors.forename: Wael
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Almahmeed
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haughney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012907:Smoking; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014479:United Arab Emirates
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