TY - JOUR T1 - Prevalence of COPD in Spain: impact of undiagnosed COPD on quality of life and daily life activities JF - Thorax JO - Thorax SP - 863 LP - 868 DO - 10.1136/thx.2009.115725 VL - 64 IS - 10 AU - M Miravitlles AU - J B Soriano AU - F García-Río AU - L Muñoz AU - E Duran-Tauleria AU - G Sanchez AU - V Sobradillo AU - J Ancochea Y1 - 2009/10/01 UR - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/64/10/863.abstract N2 - Aims: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Spain and identify the level of undiagnosed disease and its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL) and activities of daily living (ADL).Methods: A population-based sample of 4274 adults aged 40–80 years was surveyed. They were invited to answer a questionnaire and undergo prebrochodilator and postbronchodilator spirometry. COPD was defined as a postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC (forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity) ratio of <0.70.Results: For 3802 participants with good-quality postbronchodilator spirometry, the overall prevalence of COPD was 10.2% (95% CI 9.2% to 11.1%) and was higher in men (15.1%) than in women (5.6%). The prevalence of COPD stage II or higher was 4.4% (95%CI; 3.8%–5.1%). The prevalence of COPD increased with age and with cigarette smoking and was higher in those with a low educational level. A previous diagnosis of COPD was reported by only 27% of those with COPD. Diagnosed patients had more severe disease, higher cumulative tobacco consumption and more severely impaired HRQL compared with undiagnosed subjects. However, even patients with undiagnosed COPD stage I+ already showed impairment in HRQL and in some aspects of ADL compared with participants without COPD.Conclusions: The prevalence of COPD in individuals between 40 and 80 years of age in Spain is 10.2% and increases with age, tobacco consumption and lower educational levels. The rate of diagnosised COPD is very high and undiagnosed individuals with COPD already have a significant impairment in HRQL and ADL. ER -