Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Lemoigne, F
• Barré, E
• Arsento, M
• Bily, F
• Gibelin, G
• Pelser, M
• Paillasseur, J-L
• Garcia-Macé, J
• Perez, T
• Roche, N

Titel

Early detection of COPD in occupational medicine in the Alpes-Maritimes

Ist Teil von

• Revue des maladies respiratoires, 2015-01, Vol.32 (1), p.30

Ort / Verlag

France

Erscheinungsjahr

2015

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• This study evaluated a standardized procedure aiming at early detection of COPD in a consecutive population of employees visiting occupational medicine. A total of 2818 employees were included by 22 occupational physicians in 5 centers. Respiratory symptoms, smoking status, occupational exposures and socioprofessional categories were collected. Subjects with at least one symptom and/or risk factor underwent spirometry. In this population aged 39±12 years, 2603 patients were free of known asthma or COPD. The presence of at least one symptom was observed in 23.6 % of employees and was significantly associated with smoking status, occupational exposure to organic dust, gas fumes and vapors, and agriculture (P<0.0001). Airflow obstruction (FEV1/FVC < 0.70) was detected in 1.7 % of 1605 employees who underwent spirometry. With the inclusion of known COPD subjects (n=22), the prevalence reached 2.38 %. COPD was significantly associated with smoking intensity. Information on subsequent diagnosis was obtained in only two cases. The quality of spirometry was inadequate in 30 % of cases. Thirty-three percent of detected COPD subjects did not report any respiratory symptoms. The strategy used in this study (specific questionnaire plus spirometry) allowed detection of a few cases of previously undiagnosed COPD. Occupational physicians need specific training in spirometry and a better follow-up of care pathways is required to obtain diagnostic confirmation.