Knowledge of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, presence of chronic respiratory symptoms and use of spirometry among the Spanish population: CONOCEPOC 2019 study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze current data on the population's level of knowledge about COPD and to evaluate certain diagnostic interventions, such as the use of spirometry.

Material and methods: An epidemiological, observational, cross-sectional study by telephone interview, with random dialing of landline telephone numbers, was conducted in November 2019, in a nationally representative sample of adults over 40 years of age.

Results: From a total of 51,079 telephone calls, a total of 1920 individuals responded. Mean age was 61.9 years and 31.6% were men. Overall, 19.4% were current smokers and 13.4% reported respiratory disease (5% reported COPD). In total, 27.9% had spontaneous knowledge of COPD, which is a relative increase from the 17% observed in 2011. The most frequent information channel was the media (35.5%), with a significant presence of social networks and the Internet (25.7%). Almost one fifth (18.1%) had chronic respiratory symptoms. Of these, 59.3% had requested medical care, and 66.2% had undergone spirometry. Spirometry was performed less frequently in subjects treated in primary care compared to respiratory medicine departments (51.9% versus 79.1%; P < .001).

Conclusions: Knowledge of COPD is still scarce, and strategies are needed to increase awareness and the importance of assessing respiratory symptoms and increased use of spirometry.

Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); Conocimiento; Enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC); España; Espirometría; Knowledge; Respiratory symptoms; Spain; Spirometry; Síntomas respiratorios.