Prevalence and Population Attributable Risk for Early Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in U.S. Hispanic/Latino Individuals

Rationale In predominantly White populations, early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (i.e., COPD in people aged <50 yr) has been linked to higher hospitalization rates and mortality; however, the prevalence, risk factors, and population attributable risk (PAR) of early COPD remain to be determined in non-White populations. Objectives We aimed to examine the prevalence, risk factors, and PARs of early COPD among Hispanic/Latino individuals, the largest U.S. minority group. Methods We used baseline data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, a population-based probability sample of 16,415 Hispanic/Latino individuals aged 18–74 years. Participants aged <50 years were included (N = 7,323). Early COPD was defined as a forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity ratio less than the lower limit of normal. We used survey logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors and estimate the prevalence of early COPD. PARs of the risk factors identified were estimated. Results A total of 524 participants met the criteria for early COPD, yielding a sex- and age-adjusted prevalence of 7.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.8–8.6). Asthma (odds ratio [OR], 3.37; 95% CI, 2.57–4.41), smoking status (ever vs. never; OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.24–2.20), and chronic sinusitis (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.09–2.66) were associated with increased odds of early COPD. Immigrants versus U.S.-born individuals have lower odds of early COPD (age at immigration <15 yr and living in the United States <10 yr; OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.39–2.27; age at immigration <15 yr and living in the United States ⩾10 yr; OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.37–0.84; age at immigration ⩾15 yr and living in the United States <10 yr; OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.57–1.30; and age at immigration ⩾15 yr and living in the United States ⩾10 yr; OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.42–0.95). Among smokers, pack-years was not associated with early COPD (5–9.9 vs. <5 pack-years; OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.59–1.82; ⩾10 vs. <5 pack-years; OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.74–1.94). The mean PAR for asthma, smoking status, and chronic sinusitis was 26.3% (95% CI, 22.1–30.3), 22.4% (95% CI, 17.4–27.1), and 6.9% (95% CI, 4.3–9.4), respectively. Conclusions Among U.S. Hispanic/Latino individuals, asthma is one of the most important risk factors for early COPD, followed by smoking and chronic sinusitis. Immigrants appear to have a lower risk of early COPD than U.S.-born Hispanic/Latino individuals.