Validation of a structured questionnaire for COPD and prevalence of COPD in rural area of Mysore: A pilot study

• Published in: Lung India Vol. 26; no. 3; pp. 63 - 69
• Main Authors: Mahesh, P A, Jayaraj, B S, Prahlad, S T, Chaya, S K, Prabhakar, A K, Agarwal, A N, Jindal, S K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.07.2009; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Biomass; Biomass fuels; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Diagnosis; Disease; Health aspects; Health facilities; Lung diseases; Lung diseases, Obstructive; Males; Mortality; nicotine dependence; Original; prevalence; Prevalence studies (Epidemiology); Risk factors; screening questionnaire; Smoking; Studies; Womens health; India; screening questionnaire; prevalence; nicotine dependence; Biomass fuels; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• ISSN: 0970-2113; 0974-598X
• DOI: 10.4103/0970-2113.53226

The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing in India and there is a need to study the prevalence of COPD, particularly in the rural areas, which may be most affected due to their lifestyle. FIRST STAGE: Validation of the questionnaire-105 consecutive patients underwent administration of the structured questionnaire and spirometry was used as a gold standard for the diagnosis of COPD. Second stage: Adults above 40 years (n = 900) in two villages of Mysore district were administered with the validated questionnaire, Knowledge and Attitude questionnaire and Fagerstorm questionnaire, to assess nicotine dependency. The questionnaire was found to have a sensitivity of 62.5% and specificity of 87.6% to diagnose COPD. Of the total 900 adults surveyed (Males: 453, Females: 447), the total prevalence of COPD was 7.1%. Males had a higher prevalence (11.1%) compared to females (4.5%). The prevalence of smoking was very high among men at 71.9% and all the women were nonsmokers. The prevalence of COPD was 14.7% in smokers, 19.3% had mild to moderate nicotine dependency and 12.8% were highly dependent. Of the women exposed to regular biomass fuels, the prevalence of COPD was 3.9%, which increased to 4.8% on addition of regular passive smoking. In smoking, male gender and age were significantly associated with COPD (P < 0.05). The structured questionnaire is a useful tool for the screening of COPD in field studies. Smoking and biomass fuel exposure are important risk factors for COPD.