COPD IN A SAMPLE OF GENERAL ADULT POPULATION FROM THE SKOPJE REGION

Abstract

Introduction. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity, disability and mortality in the last decades worldwide. Aim of the study. To determine the COPD prevalence in a sample of general adult population from the Skopje region and its distribution by sex, age, smoking status, working status, family history of chronic bronchitis/asthma, and mode of household heating and cooking. Methods. A cross-sectional study (prevalence study) including 2,348 participants (1,239 males and 1,109 females, aged 18 to 86 years) from the Skopje region was performed at the Institute for Occupational Health of RN Macedonia, Skopje, in the period 2018-2021. The study protocol included completion of a questionnaire and spirometric measurements (pre and post-bronchodilator spirometry). COPD was defined by spirometric finding of persistent airflow limitation in symptomatic study subjects. Results. COPD prevalence in the whole study sample was 4.6%, being non-significantly higher in men (5.1%) than in women (4.1%). Fourfold higher prevalence of COPD was registered in the study subjects aged over 45 years as compared to the younger ones (6.7% vs. 1.6%; P = 0.000). COPD prevalence was significantly higher in active smokers as compared to non-smoking study subjects (9.4% vs. 1.9%; P = 0.000). In regard to working status, COPD prevalence among active workers was 3.9%, in the group of retired persons 8.7%, while in the group of students there was not a single subject with COPD. In addition, COPD prevalence in the workers occupationally exposed to noxious particles or gases was significantly higher than in unexposed workers (4.7% vs. 2.4%; P = 0.021). There was no statistically significant difference in the COPD prevalence between study subjects with positive and negative family history of asthma/chronic bronchitis (4.8% vs. 4.5%), as well as between study subjects who used biomass fuels for heating and cooking (6.2%) and those who did not use traditional fuels for household needs (4.0%). Conclusion. Our findings have indicated the age, active smoking and occupational exposures to noxious particles or gases as the factors significantly related to COPD prevalence in the examined sample of general adult population from the Skopje region.