The Heterogeneity of COPD Patients in a Community-Based Practice and the Inadequacy of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Criteria: A Real-World Experience
Fortune O. Alabi, Hadaya A. Alkhateeb, Kayla M. DeBarros, Pierina S. Barletti Benel, Rachel L. Sanchez-Martez, Mia L. Zeper, Reema A. Ismail, Fred Umeh, Nelson Medina-Villanueva
Abstract
BACKGROUND: ] to forced vital capacity [FVC] ratio < 70%) on spirometry. In this real-world study, we analyzed patients with physician-diagnosed COPD, described their characteristics, and evaluated the diagnostic sensitivity of Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria in this population. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the charts of 2115 patients for eligibility. A total of 1224 patients with physician-diagnosed COPD were selected for this study. The average age was 68.4±11.5 years, with 51% being female. Of the 1224 patients, 18% did not have a history of smoking, 73% had bronchodilator testing, and a significant response of ≥12% was noted in 23% of the COPD patients. Moreover, 43% of the patients met the GOLD criteria for the diagnosis of COPD, whereas the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) and lower limit of normal (LLN)criteria were only able to identify 26%. DISCUSSION: /FVC ratio<70. CONCLUSIONS: ) 2019 definition for COPD will improve and enhance our ability to diagnose COPD earlier and more accurately.