Subdiagnóstico da doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica na atenção primária ; Underdiagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary care

The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease with systemic manifestations, mainly caused by smoking and is characterized by progressive bronchial obstruction irreversible or partially reversible. Respiratory symptoms include dyspnea, wheezing, coughing and expectoration. The characteristics include systemic skeletal muscle dysfunction, weight loss, anxiety, depression, osteoporosis, increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Is mainly related to smoking and exposure to biomass. The spirometry in high-risk populations is a simple and effective method for the detection of COPD. The diagnosis at the initial stage of the disease allows the application of preventive measures in relation to smoking and the workplace. In Brazil, the underdiagnosis of COPD is due, among other factors, the underutilization of spirometry, the low rate of medical diagnosis in primary care units and the lack of knowledge about the patient's disease risk. The objective of this study is to investigate the underdiagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in primary care units and the factors associated with them, to identify individuals with clinical and functional criteria of COPD, to detect cases of underdiagnosis in subjects with COPD and assess the degree use of spirometry as a diagnostic method for COPD in the primary network. We recruited individuals aged 40 years or older and who had a smoking history of at least 20 pack / years. Participants answered a questionnaire on demographics, symptoms, previous medical diagnosis and underwent post bronchodilator spirometry. COPD was defined as a forced expiratory volume in one second over forced vital capacity less than 0.7. It was considered previously diagnosed individuals who responded affirmatively to one of the questions about whether they had received previous medical diagnosis of emphysema, chronic bronchitis or COPD. We evaluated 200 individuals, of which 63 met the criteria for COPD. In these subjects, there was a percentage of underdiagnosis of 71.4%, mean ...