Lung function decline in subjects with and without COPD in a population-based cohort in Latin-America

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BACKGROUND: Lung-function decline is one of the possible mechanisms leading to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). METHODS: We analyzed data obtained from two population-based surveys of adults (n = 2026) conducted in the same individuals 5-9 years (y) after their baseline examination in three Latin-American cities. Post BronchoDilator (postBD) FEV1 decline in mL/y, as %predicted/y (%P/y) and % of baseline/y (%B/y) was calculated and the influence of age, gender, BMI, baseline lung function, BD response, exacerbations rate evaluated using multivariate models. RESULTS: Expressed in ml/y, the mean annual postBD FEV1 decline was 27 mL (0.22%P, 1.32%B) in patients with baseline COPD and 36 (0.14%P, 1.36%B) in those without. Faster decline (in mL/y) was associated with higher baseline lung function, with significant response to bronchodilators, older age and smoking at baseline, also in women with chronic cough and phlegm, or ≥2 respiratory exacerbations in the previous year, and in men with asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Lung function decline in a population-based cohort did not differ in obstructed and non-obstructed individuals, it was proportional to baseline FEV1, and was higher in smokers, elderly, and women with respiratory symptoms.