COPD Often Not Diagnosed, Study Finds

Many people with chronic lung disease don’t know they have it, new research suggests. The study included 1,000 people 40 and over. All had smoked an average of a pack a day for at least 20 years. During doctor visits, they were asked to blow into a device called a spirometer. This is a test of lung function. The tests showed that about 1 out of 5 people had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). And a large majority of these people had not been diagnosed with COPD before. COPD is a severe lung disease. It includes emphysema and chronic (long-term) bronchitis. Researchers said diagnosis would give people an extra incentive to quit smoking. They also can get treatment, which may improve symptoms. The study was published online by the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Canadian Press wrote about it April 6.