| Popis: |
Background: Diagnosis of Obstructive Lung disease is typically missed or delayed until the condition is advanced. On World Asthma and COPD Days 2017, Romanian Society of Pneumology (SRP) organized 7 days awareness campaigns in Bucharest offering 2 days free spirometries for general public. The aim of the study was (1) to identify subjects with airflow limitation, (2) to assess the relationships between the severity of symptoms and spirometry values. Method and materials: Spirometry and questionnaire addressing different issues: suggestive symptoms, risk factors, previous lung function tests, history of exacerbations, any inhalatory therapy. Results: A total of 650 persons with mean age=60.4±15.2yrs were screened by spirometry, of which 33.3%(217) had lung function impairment with mean FEV1=67.6±14%. From symptomatic ones 53.5%(239) had dyspnea, 66.2%(294) cough, 40.5%(181) chest tightness and 41.2%(184) wheezing. Although 31.7%(206) were symptomatic with smoking history, only 17%(35) of them had performed spirometry in the last 6 months. Moreover, 44%(286) were symptomatic with normal lung function and 23.7%(154) previously undiagnosed patients were detected with abnormal spirometry. Even if 20.6%(134) cases had diagnosis of lung disorder (37-asthma, 21-COPD, 5-emphysema, 71-bronchitis) only 52 had treated their disease and 24 had performed spirometry in the last 6 months. Conclusions: Disease severity: 73.7%(479) had at least 1 exacerbation/year, 28.2% received antibiotic treatment, 7% presented to the emergency room, 2.7% required hospitalization. The main reason behind screening spirometry is to provide the millions of people with the right treatment and spread awareness about it. |
