title: Spirometry screening for airway obstruction in asymptomatic smokers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Screening spirometry might help identify patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at an earlier stage. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of airway obstruction in a cohort of asymptomatic smokers who underwent spirometry as part of a routine health maintenance examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study cohort consisted of a consecutive sample of 386 asymptomatic smokers (≥5 pack-years) without a history of COPD or asthma, who completed spirometry testing as part of a routine health maintenance examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 9 study subjects (2.3%, 95% confidence interval: 1.1-4.4%) had evidence of airway obstruction on spirometry. Univariate and multiple regression analyses showed that the risk of airway obstruction was not significantly associated with age, sex, race, smoking history or past history of respiratory symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spirometry screening of asymptomatic smokers may help detect a small number of patients with airway obstruction who are at high risk for COPD.
authors.affiliation: MD, DrPH, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wisnivesky
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Skloot
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rundle
authors.forename: Tracey A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Revenson
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neugut
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013147:Spirometry / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology