title: COPD characteristics and socioeconomic burden in Hellenic correctional institutions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The high prevalence of smoking (80%) in Greek correctional institutions is anticipated to result in high prevalence of COPD in such settings.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the Greek obstructive luNg disease epidemiOlogy and health economics Study In corrective institutionS (GNOSIS) is to determine the prevalence of smoking and COPD among inmates and to assess the health-related quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  GNOSIS, a cross-sectional epidemiological study, was conducted between March 2011 and December 2011 in seven correctional institutions in Greece.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 552 participants, 91.3% male, median age of 43.0 years (interquartile range: 35-53), were enrolled. COPD prevalence was 6.0% and was found to increase with age (18.6% among those ≥60 years), length of prison stay, and length of sentence. Of the participants diagnosed with COPD, 36.4% were diagnosed with Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage I and 51.5% were diagnosed with stage II. Dyspnea severity was assessed as grades 0-1 on the medical research council dyspnea scale for 88.3%, while 31% reported ≥2 COPD exacerbations in the past year. Seventy-nine percent of the total number of the participants were smokers, with a median smoking of 20.0 cigarettes per day, while 42.9% were assessed as having a strong addiction to nicotine. The median EuroQol visual analog scale score was 70.0 (interquartile range: 60.0-90.0). Problems in the dimension of anxiety/depression were reported by 82.8%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study support the notion that the prevalence of COPD among inmates of Greek correctional institutions may increase in the following years. The findings underscore the importance of taking actions to limit COPD prevalence and its risk factors in the Greek correctional system.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Medicine Department, University of Thessaly Medical School, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleni G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Bania
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Medicine Department, University of Thessaly Medical School, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Daniil
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Medicine Department, University of Thessaly Medical School, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Chrysa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hatzoglou
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelos C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Alexopoulos
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, Novartis Hellas, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eirini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mitsiki
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Medicine Department, University of Thessaly Medical School, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Gourgoulianis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015995:Prevalence; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology; D011330:Prisons / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Greece; correctional institutions; prevention; public health; smoking; stress