Validation of a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease questionnaire

Epidemiological surveys using questionnaires are increasingly used as the sole method for diagnosing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] in at risk population. The performance of such questionnaires may be affected by cultural differences and translation may alter outcome; therefore, it may not be possible to use questionnaires validated in settings different to ours. In Sudan, the epidemiology of COPD remains unknown. This study was conducted to test the validity of a COPD diagnosis questionnaire in a cohort of Sudanese patients with coronary artery disease [CAD]. The questionnaire has the potential for future use in Sudan. We studied consecutive adults with catheter diagnosed CAD recruited from two cardiac centers. All patients completed the COPD diagnosis questionnaire and performed spirometry. The questionnaire was translated in Arabic by the doctors who conducted the interview. COPD was diagnosed if patients score placed them in the high likelihood zone of having COPD or if their forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV1] was less than 80% predicted. The validity of the questionnaire was tested, using spirometry diagnosed COPD as gold standard, by calculating sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values. Forty patients were studied. Their mean +/- SD age was 45 +/- 6.8 years. The calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the questionnaire were 36%, 69%, 31% and 74% respectively. In this group of patients with CAD the COPD questionnaire yielded results on validity testing comparable to results from similar questionnaires

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with catheter diagnosed coronary artery disease: prevalence and risk factors

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and coronary artery disease [CAD] co-morbidity exists at different rates. This co-morbidity affects quality of life and increases mortality. In the developing world the prevalence of CAD is increasing but the prevalence of COPD is unknown. This study was designed to estimate the proportion of patients with CAD who have concomitant COPD and identify factors that may increase the likelihood of COPD in CAD patients. A cross sectional study that included consecutive adults with catheter diagnosed CAD recruited from two cardiac centers. Patients completed a COPD diagnosis validated questionnaire and performed spirometry using an electronic spirometer. COPD was diagnosed if patient score placed him/her in the high likelihood zone of having COPD, or if the FEV1 was less than 80% predicted. Results were compared using chi-square test. Fifty nine patients with CAD were studied. The mean age [SD] was 59 [9.7] years. Of these 59 patients; 27 [44%] had COPD diagnosed by either questionnaire or spirometry. COPD was significantly more among patients with single vessel disease compared with multiple vessel disease [p = 0.01]. There was no difference in the number of smokers among patients with CAD and COPD, and CAD alone [p = 0.29]. The prevalence of COPD increased with increasing age [p=0.003]. In this group of patients with CAD more than two in five have concomitant COPD. The prevalence of COPD increases with age and is more in patients with single vessel disease compared with patients who have multiple vessel disease