Résumé
Different spirometric criteria are recommended to diagnosis chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]: -American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society [ATS/ERS], Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease [GOLD]: a post bronchodilator [PBD] ratio between the 1st second Forced Expiratory Volume and Forced Vital Capacity [FEV1/FVC] < 0.70; -Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand [ANZTS]: a PBD FEV1/FVC < 0.70 and a PBD FEV1 < 80%; -British Thoracic Society [BTS]: a before BD [BBD] FEV1/FVC < 0.70 and a BBD FEV1 < 80%; -Old criterion retained, till 2010, by the French Society of Pneumology [SPLF]: a PBD ratio between FEV1 and slow vital capacity < 0.70. To determine, according to the different recommendations, the percentage of smokers having COPD among a population of smokers of more than 40 Packets/Year [PY] addressed for plethysmography. The plethysmographic data of 531 consecutive stable male smokers that underwent reversibility testing [400 micro g of Salbutamol[registered sign]] were analyzed. The mean + - SD of age, cigarettes consumption, PBD FEV1 [%], were, respectively, 61 + - 11 Yr, 64 + - 20 PY and 52 + - 21%. The percentages of subjects having COPD according to the above criteria were 75.5% [SPLF old criterion]; 71.2% [ATS/ERS, GOLD]; 70.8% [BTS] and 69.7% [ANZTS]. The diagnosis of COPD depends on which guidelines are used for defining the disease. This forms a barrier to early diagnosis, affects public health decisions and wrong planning strategies