title: Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in kocaeli: an industrialised city in Turkey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important cause of mortality worldwide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in residents who were ≥40 years old and living in a heavily industrialised city of Turkey, Kocaeli, using the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease Initiative questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  1035 residents ≥40 years old and living in Kocaeli were surveyed. Spirometry and the basic BOLD questionnaire was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  946 subjects entered into the analysis. The prevalence of stage I or higher COPD was 13.3% (8.7% for women and 16.5% for men), the prevalence of COPD at GOLD stage II or higher was 7.1% (4.1% for women and 9.2% for men). We also noted a high prevalence of COPD in never-smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Besides cigarette smoking, occupational exposure to fumes, chemicals and dusts might have also contributed to the high prevalence of COPD noted in residents who were ≥40 years old and living in Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Diseases, Kocaeli University Medical School, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zeliha
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Diseases, Kocaeli University Medical School, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ilgazlı
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Kocaeli University Medical School, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nilay
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Etiler
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Kocaeli University Medical School, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hamzaoğlu
keywords: COPD; age; cigarette smoking; epidemiology; prevalence; questionnaires