Early detection of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in family practice

Abstract

Background: In real practice, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) is often diagnosed at a late stage as its clinical manifestations pass unnoticed and spirometry is almost not utilized. Objectives: To clarify the possibility of early detection of COPD by family physicians at the primary health care level. Methods: The study was conducted during the winter season (2015) in Al-Shohadaa family health center, Al-Shohadaa city, Menoufia governorate, Egypt. All patients ≥ 40 years, smoking ≥ 20 pack-years and attending the center with respiratory symptoms were subjected after their consent to a spirometry to check for early COPD diagnosis. Results: Although based on spirometry 33 out of 192 had COPD (18 (9.4%) had GOLD I and 15 (7.8%) had ≥ GOLD II, respectively), there was no significant difference in the type and the number of respiratory symptoms between Non-COPD and early COPD patients. Conclusion: It was demonstrated that the presenting symptoms specially in early stages could not discriminate patients with COPD, so availability of spirometry in addition to training of family physicians at the family health care settings is a mandatory challenge for early COPD diagnosis.