title: [Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)--similarities and differences of the study group participating in the project of National Center for Research and Development project "Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)--systemic disease, the biggest threat of XXI century"].
abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant clinical problem wich is dependent on many environmental factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  of the study was to present a characteristic of examined group in the moment of including into the project.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on data obtained from studies conducted in six medical universities in Poland we present the characteristics of 445 patients (M-69%), median age 66.2 years, suffering from COPD with median disease duration 7.7 years. The analysis included: age, education, risk factors, exacerbations and hospitalizations, comorbidities, severity of the disease, drug use and the results of selected tests and the quality of life of patients in relation with their place of residence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Some differences were found among the participating centers. The youngest patients came from Wrocław and the oldest from Katowice. The largest number of patients with higher education were from Warsaw, while the lowest number was noted in Poznań; patients with primary education were most numerous in Lublin. Patients from Warsaw had the highest number of pack-years, smoking history was least relevant in patients from Wrocław. The highest values of spirometrical parameters were observed in Gdańsk, while the lowest--in Poznań. COPD treatment mainly comprised of long-acting beta2 agonists, followed by anticholinergic agents, more than 50% of patients were treated with inhaled glucocorticosteroids. The most common comorbidities were cardiovascular diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study group showed characteristics similar to those of other cohorts of patients with COPD described in the literature, but we found some differences between patients from different centers which participated in the study.
authors.affiliation: Department of the Internal Medicine, Pneumonology and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rubinsztajn
authors.affiliation: Department of the Internal Medicine, Pneumonology and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw.
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Przybyłowski
authors.affiliation: Department of the Internal Medicine, Pneumonology and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karwat
authors.affiliation: Department of the Internal Medicine, Pneumonology and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maskey-Warzęchowska
authors.affiliation: Department of the Internal Medicine, Pneumonology and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw.
authors.forename: Ryszarda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chazan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012907:Smoking; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: COPD; COPD treatment; comorbidities; lung testing