[Profile of adults suffering from COPD in Poland].
BACKGROUND
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common chronic diseases in adults. It is estimated, that in Poland around two million people suffer from COPD.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study, was to characterize population of patients with COPD in Poland.


METHODS
The study, established and coordinated by the Polish Respiratory Society, included a representative sample of 500 GPs where were asked to fill questionnaires on diagnosis and treatment of their COPD patients. The questions dealt with disease history and clinical presentation, COPD severity stage, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.


RESULTS
Altogether 298 physicians (59.6% of invited) provided information about 2756 COPD patients aged 61.6 ± 11.1 years (36.3% were women). According to GOLD recommendations 16.6% of patients had mild, 57.0% moderate, 18.6% severe and 2.1% very severe COPD. Smoking history was declared by 97.8% of respondents. 51.4% of COPD patients had continued smoking. Over the last year Ambulance Service intervened in 19.7% of patients and 29.1% of respondents required hospital treatment of COPD. Among more than 80% of patients, doctor diagnosed limitation in exercise tolerance, and shortness of breath at rest, and in approximately 60% of the respondents were presented productive cough, weakened vesicular murmur and prolonged phase of exhalation.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the diagnosis, more than half of men and women had continued smoking. The number of hospitalizations and emergency intervention positively correlated with the severity of the disease. The survey results emphasize the urgent need for health education in patients with COPD.
Klinika Psychiatrii 2f3 Oddziału Fizjoterapii Ii Wydziału Lekarskiego Warszawskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego, Warszawa, Polska.
Marcin
M
Nowak
Katedra I Zakład Epidemiologii, Wydział Lekarski W Katowicach, Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Katowice, Polska.
Mateusz
M
Jankowski
Katedra I Zakład Epidemiologii, Wydział Lekarski W Katowicach, Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Katowice, Polska, e-mail: brozekg@sum.edu.pl.
Grzegorz M
GM
Brożek
Katedra I Klinika Pneumonologii, Wydział Lekarski W Katowicach, Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Katowice, Polska.
Szymon
S
Skoczyński
Katedra I Klinika Pneumonologii, Wydział Lekarski W Katowicach, Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Katowice, Polska.
Patrycja
P
Rzepka-Wrona
Zakład Medycyny Estetycznej Katedra Kosmetologii, Wydział Farmaceutyczny Z Oddziałem Diagnostyki Laboratoryjnej W Sosnowcu, Katowicach, Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Katowice, Polska.
Ewa
E
Pierzchała
Katedra I Zakład Epidemiologii, Wydział Lekarski W Katowicach, Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Katowice, Polska.
Jan E
JE
Zejda
Katedra I Klinika Pneumonologii, Wydział Lekarski W Katowicach, Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Katowice, Polska.
Władysław
W
Pierzchała
D000368:Aged; D003371:Cough; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
 adults;  epidemiology ; COPD