The purpose of this research was to investigate the correlation between prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and smoking habit in subjects on human dry dock. The subjects were 6, 967 persons (4, 722 males and 2, 245 females ; age : 46.9±8.0 years ; range : 30-73 years) who have human dry dock at 5530 clinic health screening center in 2001. COPD was diagnosed by FEV1.0% (FEV1.0/VC×100) ≤70%. The subjects were divided into non-smokers, exsmokers and current smokers based on their smoking habit.
The prevalence of COPD of all subjects was 3.8%, and the prevalence in each group of non-smokers, ex-smokers and current smokers increased significantly over 50 years old compared with corresponding value in 30-39 years old. Particularly, the prevalence in current smokers increased remarkably compared with that in other groups. The prevalence in 50-59 years old and over 60 years old was higher in order of non-smokers, ex-smokers, current smokers of Brinkman index<400, current smokers of Brinkman index≥400. However, the prevalence in the other age groups did not show significant difference among the previous four groups. The percentage of exsmokers increased. And the percentage of current smokers decreased with aging.
These results suggest that the prevalence of COPD increases irrespective of smoking habit in over 50 years old, and that it is higher in persons who have smoking habit with higher Brinkman index. Therefore, we conclude that it is necessary to perform the spirometry for all persons who have medical check-up including human dry dock in order to detect COPD.
