The Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the Middle East and North Africa: Results of the BREATHE study
Location
Lecture Hall-1
Start Date
27-2-2014 3:30 PM
COinS
Feb 27th, 3:30 PM
Feb 27th, 3:40 PM
The Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the Middle East and North Africa: Results of the BREATHE study
Lecture Hall-1
Description
Summary: COPD is a progressive pulmonary disease which may have a profound impact on general health status and quality of life. This article presents data on the burden of COPD obtained from the BREATHE study in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan. This study was a large general population survey of COPD conducted in eleven countries of the region using a standardised methodology. A total of 62,086 subjects were screened, of whom 2,187 fulfilled the “epidemiological” definition of COPD. Data on symptoms, perceived disease severity, impact on work, limitations in activities and psychological distress were collected. 1,392 subjects were analysable of whom 661 (47.5%) reported experiencing an exacerbation of their respiratory condition, 49.4% reported comorbidities and 5.5% reported severe breathlessness as measured with the MRC breathlessness questionnaire. The degree of breathlessness, as well as the perceived severity, was correlated with the overall disease impact as measured with the COPD Assessment Test (p < 0.001). 374 subjects (28.4%) reported that their respiratory condition prevented them from working and this proportion rose to 47.8% in subjects who perceived their respiratory condition as severe. 47.9% of subjects reported difficulties in normal physical exertion, 37.5% in social activities and 31.7% in family activities. Psychological distress was reported by between 42.3% and 53.2% of subjects, depending on the item. In conclusion, the burden of COPD is important, and covers central aspects of daily life. For this reason, physicians should take time to discuss it with their patients, and ensure that the management strategy proposed addresses all their needs of FEV1 found in current smokers compared to ex-smokers and can be used to convince people to quit smoking.
Material and methods: The cross sectional study will be carried out prospectively in the outpatient spirometric unit of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. This will be be a six month study.The study will commenced after approval following approval of synopsis by Research evaluating unit(REU), College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan.
Sample size: From the literature, According to spirometric results 38% smoker had confirmed COPD (10). Therefore taking the frequency of 38%, with a bound on error of 0.09 (9%), an alpha significance level of 0.05 with a 95% CIs, a sample of at least 112 will require to achieve this objective.