Analysis of the detectability of COPD risk factors in the population of Yakutsk

Abstract

The most common reason for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the damage to airways and lungs caused by tobacco smoking. About 15% of all long-time smokers develop a clinically significant obstructive pulmonary disease. In 80-90% of all cases the development of COPD is connected with smoking. Total incidence of COPD (per 1000 people) in 2008-2014 in Russia, Far Eastern Federal District and the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) in comparison is 5-5,3-6,3-6,8-8-8,6-8,2 in the Sakha Republic, 3,7-4,2-4,7-4 in the Far Eastern District and 3,7- 3,9-4,1-3,7 in Russia. The number of COPD cases in the Sakha Republic over time remains high compared to the Far Eastern District and Russia, despite the low density of population.The total number of respiratory system diseases (RSD) in 2014 (preliminary data) was 74,115; pneumonia – 2,308; chronic bronchitis – 19,438; COPD – 5,740; bronchial asthma – 8,773. 2014 saw a decrease in cases of pneumonia by 334 patients as compared to 2010. The number of COPD cases increased by 1,354 patients, and the greatest increase was in the number of bronchial asthma cases – by 2,542 people. (Absolute numbers per Yakutsk Republican Medical Information and Analysis Centre data, 2014).The aim of our research was to study COPD risk factors among the citizens of Yakutsk working in dusty and polluted environments and chemical companies, as well as the people who have a bad habit of smoking.We conducted surveys and examined respiratory functions (spirometry). We examined 70 people living in the City of Yakutsk who had respiratory complaints, were subject to occupational hazards, or were long-time smokers.In order to study the COPD risk factors, we used ‘A Patient’s Questionnaire’ developed by the Pulmonology Research Institute of Russia’s Federal Medical-Biological Agency, Moscow. The questionnaire contains 22 questions to identify risk factors and respiratory symptoms. We also used a self-actualisation test to evaluate the impact of COPD on the health status of a responder. This test on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be used for a simple and reliable evaluation of the health status of patients who have the disease. It is used in conjunction with other diagnostic methods and allows for a relatively simple evaluation of COPD’s level of impact on health status. This test is used to evaluate the impact of COPD on the well-being and everyday life of a patient.The most common symptoms among the COPD patients included: a cough of over 3 months – 71.4%, productive cough – 52.8%, a feeling of compressing chest pain – 32.8%, exertional dyspnoea – 75.7%, weakness – 52.8%.Common causative risk factors include smoking, i.e. those who have a history of smoking of over 10-20 years, and occupational hazards, i.e. work in chemical companies and in dusty, polluted environments.Examination of respiratory functions using spirometry showed that 40 patients (57%) had light respiratory dysfunction, 25 (36%) had moderate respiratory dysfunction, and 5 (7%) had severe respiratory dysfunction.The results of self-actualisation test show that COPD has an insignificant effect on the quality of life of 51 surveyed people (73%), has a moderate effect on the quality of life of 16 people (23%), and has a serious effect on the quality of life of 3 people (4%).All 100% of examined people have clinical aspects of COPD and respiratory dysfunction that corresponds to spirographic classification of COPD.