Researchers of the IRBLleida warn of a lack of early diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with some cardiovascular risk factor

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) infradiagnosis is very high in patients 50-65 years of age with a cardiovascular risk factor (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking, family history) in Lleida's primary care. According to the research, 73% of the population studied would not be diagnosed. This is the conclusion of a study carried out by researchers from the Applied Epidemiology Research Group of the Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida), coordinated by Pere Godoy.

The research, which has analyzed a total of 2,295 patients with a cardiovascular risk factor of the 'El Bus de la Salut' project, advises the realization of a spirometry to assess the possibility of suffering the disease in people between 50 and 65 Years with a risk factor, taking advantage of these patients often consulting primary care medicine professionals.

One of the researchers in the study, Josep Montserrrat-Capdevila, family doctor in Bellvís-Els Arcs, explained that 10.6% (244 people) of the 2,295 people studied in 'The Healthcare Bus' (ILERAS study ) showed the presence of bronchial obstruction after spirometry, although the diagnosis did not consist in the respective computerized primary care history histories. "This information indicates that the COI-class infradiagnosis - in the population with some cardiovascular risk factor in the province of Lleida, between 50 and 65 years, included in the ILERVAS study, is very high, of 73%" , shone Montserrat-Capdevila.

According to the researcher, this finding would imply the need to assess the indication of requesting a spirometry in patients with a cardiovascular risk factor of between 50-65 years "regardless of the reason for the doctor's visit to rule out the presence of the disease" he added.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the third cause of mortality. COPD is one of the biggest public health problems; However, up to 80% of patients are not diagnosed. In Spain there are more than one and a half million people who suffer from this disease and who are not diagnosed and who, therefore, do not receive adequate treatment. In Catalonia, it is one of the most frequent causes of medical care, especially in Urgences, due to the aggravations that are suffered during its evolution. It is estimated that 9.2% of the population over 40 years of age suffer from the disease, and it should be noted that, unlike other chronic processes, in this disease there has been no decline in mortality.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease occurs because the bronchi are inflamed and the alveoli partitions are destroyed. Alveoli is where there is a gas exchange between the outside environment and the interior of the organism; That is, where oxygen passes into the blood and carbon dioxide is eliminated. The result is a progressive difficulty in breathing properly, which is a result of my daily activities. If patients are diagnosed, hygienic measures may be recommended soon (eliminating tobacco, reducing overweight and regular exercise), vaccines (anti-influenza and antipneumococcal) and treatments that can increase the quality of life of patients and prevent serious exacerbations of the disease.

'El Bus de la Salut'

'El Bus de la Salut' is a medical project that allows you to know about the health status of the arteries (known as atheromatous disease) since 2015 and the prevalence of kidney disease hidden from people throughout the province of Lleida during three years, by means of a bus and a caravan equipped with medical equipment and sanitary personnel.