Purpose: Tobacco smoking is the major risk factor for COPD, and it is common for other risk factors in never-smokers to be overlooked. We examined the prevalence of COPD among never-smokers in Australia and identified associated risk factors.
Methods: We used data from the Australia Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study, a cross-section of people aged ≥40 years from six sites. Participants completed interviews and post-bronchodilator spirometry. COPD was primarily defined as an FEV 1 /FVC ratio <0.70 and secondarily as the ratio less than the lower limit of normal (LLN).
Results: The prevalence of COPD in the 1656 never-smokers who completed the study was 10.5% (95% CI: 9.1-12.1%) [ratioConclusion: COPD was prevalent in this population of never-smokers aged 40 years and over. This finding highlights the significance of risk factors other than smoking in the development of COPD.
Competing Interests: Guy B Marks has provided independent medical service on an advisory board for Astra Zeneca. Michael J Abramson holds investigator-initiated grants for unrelated research from Pfizer, GSK, Boehringer-Ingelheim and Sanofi and he has also conducted an unrelated consultancy for Sanofi. He has also received a speaker’s fee from GSK. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript or in the decision to publish the results. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest.
(© 2024 Ivey et al.)