title: Prevalence of obstructive lung disease in an African country using definitions from different international guidelines: a community based cross-sectional survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obstructive lung disease (OLD), a major global public health problem, has been less investigated in African countries. We assessed the prevalence and determinants of OLD in Yaounde (the capital city of Cameroon), using internationally agreed definitions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were adults (age >19 years) screened during a community-based survey between December 2013 and April 2014. Air flow limitation (AFL) was based on a pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) below the lower limit of normal (LLN, AFL-LLN). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was based on post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio < LLN (COPD-LLN).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1287 subjects included, 51.9% were female, 9.3% were current smokers and their mean age was 34.4 ± 12.8 years. Forty-nine (3.8%, 95% CI 2.8-4.9%) participants had AFL-LLN. Thirty-one subjects had COPD-LLN; giving a prevalence of COPD-LLN of (2.4%, 95% CI 1.6-3.3%). In multivariable analysis, male gender (AOR 2.42; 95% CI 1.12-5.20) and lifetime wheezing (AOR 2.88; 95% CI 1.06-7.81) were the determinants of COPD-LLN. Otherwise, male sex (AOR 1.93, 95% CI 1.00-3.73), age 40-59 years (AOR 1.99, 95% CI 1.04-3.81) and lifetime wheezing (AOR 2.65, 95% CI 1.13-6.20) remained as independent determinants of AFL-LLN.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obstructive lung disease based on more accurate definitions was relatively infrequent in this population. It is important to sensitize the medical staff and the general public about this condition which should be actively investigated in individuals aged 40 years and above.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Subspecialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon. pefura2002@yahoo.fr.|Pneumology service, Yaounde Jamot Hospital, P.O Box: 4021, Yaounde, Cameroon. pefura2002@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Eric Walter
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Pefura-Yone
authors.affiliation: South African Medical Research Council & University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. apkengne@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: André Pascal
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kengne
authors.affiliation: Pneumology service, Yaounde Jamot Hospital, P.O Box: 4021, Yaounde, Cameroon. dodobalkissou@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Adamou Dodo
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Balkissou
authors.affiliation: Institut Supérieur de Technologie Médicale, Yaounde, Cameroon. fotsogaelle@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Christiane Gaelle
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Magne-Fotso
authors.affiliation: Institut Supérieur de Technologie Médicale, Yaounde, Cameroon. yongamarty@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ngo-Yonga
authors.affiliation: Institut Supérieur de Technologie Médicale, Yaounde, Cameroon. zeitounaboulleys@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Julie Raïcha
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Boulleys-Nana
authors.affiliation: Institut Supérieur de Technologie Médicale, Yaounde, Cameroon. melingui_rachel@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Nelly Rachel
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Efe-de-Melingui
authors.affiliation: Institut Supérieur de Technologie Médicale, Yaounde, Cameroon. ndjetcheupatricia@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Patricia Ingrid
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Ndjeutcheu-Moualeu
authors.affiliation: Institut Supérieur de Technologie Médicale, Yaounde, Cameroon. cmbeleonana@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Charles Lebon
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Mbele-Onana
authors.affiliation: Institut Supérieur de Technologie Médicale, Yaounde, Cameroon. brandyelvira2003@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Elvira Christelle
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Kenmegne-Noumsi
authors.affiliation: Institut Supérieur de Technologie Médicale, Yaounde, Cameroon. barbarayomi@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Barbara Linda
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Kolontchang-Yomi
authors.affiliation: Institut Supérieur de Technologie Médicale, Yaounde, Cameroon. alexboris10@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Boris Judicaël
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Theubo-Kamgang
authors.affiliation: Institut Supérieur de Technologie Médicale, Yaounde, Cameroon. milikif@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Emilienne Régine
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Ebouki
authors.affiliation: Institut Supérieur de Technologie Médicale, Yaounde, Cameroon. krysteldjuiks@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Chrystelle Karen
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Djuikam-Kamga
authors.affiliation: Institut Supérieur de Technologie Médicale, Yaounde, Cameroon. francineamougou@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amougou
authors.affiliation: Institut Supérieur de Technologie Médicale, Yaounde, Cameroon. lilianemboumtou@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Liliane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mboumtou
authors.affiliation: Institut Supérieur de Technologie Médicale, Yaounde, Cameroon. lsie_linda@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Elsie Linda
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Petchou-Talla
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Subspecialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon. ckuaban@yahoo.fr.|Faculty of Heath Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon. ckuaban@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kuaban
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D013990:Tidal Volume; D014797:Vital Capacity