This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their influencing factors among adults in regional China. In 2023, 6403 community-dwelling residents aged 40 years and older were randomly chosen from Nanjing municipality of China. COPD was determined as self-reported physician-diagnosed patients or post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 0.70, and without other lung function impaired diseases. Multivariate logistic regression models were introduced to identify influencing factors for each rate. Totally, 5605 participants were analyzed. The spirometry-based COPD prevalence, awareness, treatment and control rates were 15.4%, 4.4%, 2.4% and 56.8%, separately, while the corresponding age- and sex-standardized rates were 15.5%, 4.6%, 2.4% and 56.5%, respectively. Age, marital status, education, physical activity and body weight status significantly correlated with COPD prevalence. Among COPD patients, these with higher educational level, chronic respiratory symptoms, or family history, and former smokers were more likely to be aware of COPD. Those smoking formerly, aged 60–79 years, with chronic respiratory symptoms, family history of COPD, higher educational level, or physical inactivity were more likely to receive treatment. Additionally, patients living in urban areas tended to have the disease under control. The prevalence of COPD among adults aged 40 years and older was high, but awareness, treatment and control rates remained limited in regional China. For the purpose to reduce COPD burden, it shall be a priority for policy-makers to initiate/provide effective and accessible education and lung function screening programs of COPD for adults in China.
Kang et al. (Tue,) studied this question.