Is there any relationship between the duration to diagnosis of COPD and severity of the disease

The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relation between the duration from begining of symptoms until diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and severity of COPD. METHOD: One hundred and fifty patients with stable COPD (140 males, 10 females) were included in the study. All the patients had a history of smoking at least 10 pack/years. None of the patient had reversibility. RESULTS: The mean of age, FEV1 and smoking history was 61±9 years, 45±16% and 48±21 pack/year, respectively. According to the GOLD criteria the patients had 40,7% moderate, 42% severe and 17,3% very severe COPD. Fifty five (59,8%) patients before, 19 (20,7%) patients during and 18 (19,5%) patients after diagnosis of COPD stopped smoking. The median duration of symptoms was 7,2±6,5 years. The median duration from the beginning of symptoms to diagnosis of COPD was 3,6±4 years. The median duration with the diagnosis of COPD was 4±6,5 years. The severity of the disease has a positive correlation with the duration of symptoms (r=0,23, p<0,01) and the duration to diagnosis of COPD (r=0,191, p<0,05). FEV1 has a negative correlation with duration of symptoms (r=-0,26, p<0,01), the duration to diagnosis (r=-16, p<0,05) and duration of COPD (r=-0,19, p<0,05). CONCLUSION: The longer duration of symptoms and the duration to diagnosis of COPD the more severe of COPD will develop. It is important to be aware of the symptoms of COPD for early diagnosis.