Late Breaking Abstract - Identification of obstructive lung disease in Austrian pharmacies - a multi-site, cross-sectional case finding study

Objective: Worldwide, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death. Over the next few years, a further increase in COPD prevalence, morbidity and mortality is expected. COPD today and increasingly in the future is a major challenge for health care systems. Based on data of the BOLD study COPD is often unrecognized and untreated. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of case finding for obstructive lung disease in Austrian pharmacies. Methods: We conducted a multi-site, cross-sectional case finding study in 536 pharmacies. 23272 subjects completed an interview and lung function testing. The questionnaire included items on prior diagnosis, respiratory symptoms and smoking habits. For lung function testing (FEV1/FEV6) we used the Vitalograph COPD-6®. Participants with a high risk for obstructive lung disease were advised to consult a pulmonologist. We validated the lung function tests performed in pharmacies with those performed by pulmonologists. Results: In the group of active smokers, impaired pulmonary function and burden of symptoms were most prevalent. 37% of active smokers demonstrated a high-risk for COPD, while in the group of non-smokers only 6% had such a risk profile. The comparison of FEV1 measured at pharmacies (mean: 2020 ml) and pulmonologists (mean: 2304 ml) indicated a difference of less than 460 ml in 75 % of the cases. Conclusion: Using a simple questionnaire and lung function test, pharmacies were found well suited for COPD case finding. To our knowledge, this study provides the most extensive data set for this evidence.