Airflow Obstruction in Never Smokers in Five Latin American Cities: The PLATINO Study

Abstract
Background. Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is mostly related to tobacco smoking, a variable proportion of COPD occurs in never smokers. We investigated differences between COPD in never smokers compared with smokers and subjects without COPD.
Methods. PLATINO is a cross-sectional population-based study of five Latin American cities. COPD was defined as postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC <0.70 and FEV1 <80% of predicted values.
Results. Among 5,315 subjects studied, 2278 were never smokers and 3036 were ever smokers. COPD was observed in 3.5% of never smokers and in 7.5% of ever smokers. Never smokers with COPD were most likely older and reported a medical diagnosis of asthma or previous tuberculosis. Underdiagnosis was as common in obstructed patients who never smoked as in ever smokers.
Conclusions. Never smokers comprised 26% of all individuals with airflow obstruction. Obstruction was associated with female gender, older age and a diagnosis of asthma or tuberculosis. (C) 2012 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Description
Keywords
Chronic pulmonary disease, Epidemiology, Never smokers, Health status, Tobacco smoking, LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES, PULMONARY-DISEASE, WORLDWIDE BURDEN, LUNG-DISEASE, COPD, PREVALENCE, DIAGNOSIS, RISK, STATEMENT, EXPOSURE
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