Time to diagnosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who have never smoked
1
Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
2
Pulmonology Department, NeumoVigoI+i Research Group, University Hospital Complex of Vigo (CHUVI), Vigo, Spain
3
Pulmonology Department, Lucus Augusti University Hospital, Lugo, Spain
4
Pulmonology Department, University Hospital Complex of Ferrol, Ferrol, Spain
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2997
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Tobacco is the main risk factor for COPD. However, up to one-third of cases may occur in never-smokers. This study describes the time elapsed since the first consultation compatible with COPD until the diagnosis of the disease in never-smoking cases.
METHODS:
The sample is based on a multicenter, ambispective cohort study of never-smoking COPD cases. Participants were recruited in 2021-2023 at three Galician hospitals (northwestern Spain). Based on electronic medical records, first consultation for symptoms compatible with COPD was identified, named the index consultation. Time to diagnosis was considered as the time elapsed between the date of the index consultation and the date of diagnosis with spirometry. This time was calculated by sex and age group (≤70, >70). The survival function (time to diagnosis) was estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves. Possible differences in time to diagnosis between sexes and age groups were assessed with the log-rank test.
RESULTS:
172 never-smoking COPD cases took part, 66.3% women, with a median age at diagnosis of 70 years (interquartile range: 57.5-75.5). Median time to diagnosis was 3.5 years overall (1.1-7.2), 3.7 in women (1.2-8.2), 2.9 in men (0.6-6.2), 2.4 in those aged ≤70 (0.8-5.8) and 5.8 in those aged >70 (1.8-8.6). Half of COPD cases took 3.8 years to be diagnosed. No statistically significant differences were found in time to diagnosis by sex (p-value=0.318) or age group (p-value=0.139). However, cases diagnosed at >70 years showed a median time to diagnosis 3.4 years longer than cases diagnosed at younger ages.
CONCLUSIONS:
While there are no significant differences in the median time to diagnosis by sex, cases diagnosed at >70 years take longer to receive a diagnosis than cases diagnosed at younger ages. These results suggest that, in never smokers with symptoms consistent with COPD, this disease is not initially suspected, particularly in older cases.
Tobacco is the main risk factor for COPD. However, up to one-third of cases may occur in never-smokers. This study describes the time elapsed since the first consultation compatible with COPD until the diagnosis of the disease in never-smoking cases.
METHODS:
The sample is based on a multicenter, ambispective cohort study of never-smoking COPD cases. Participants were recruited in 2021-2023 at three Galician hospitals (northwestern Spain). Based on electronic medical records, first consultation for symptoms compatible with COPD was identified, named the index consultation. Time to diagnosis was considered as the time elapsed between the date of the index consultation and the date of diagnosis with spirometry. This time was calculated by sex and age group (≤70, >70). The survival function (time to diagnosis) was estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves. Possible differences in time to diagnosis between sexes and age groups were assessed with the log-rank test.
RESULTS:
172 never-smoking COPD cases took part, 66.3% women, with a median age at diagnosis of 70 years (interquartile range: 57.5-75.5). Median time to diagnosis was 3.5 years overall (1.1-7.2), 3.7 in women (1.2-8.2), 2.9 in men (0.6-6.2), 2.4 in those aged ≤70 (0.8-5.8) and 5.8 in those aged >70 (1.8-8.6). Half of COPD cases took 3.8 years to be diagnosed. No statistically significant differences were found in time to diagnosis by sex (p-value=0.318) or age group (p-value=0.139). However, cases diagnosed at >70 years showed a median time to diagnosis 3.4 years longer than cases diagnosed at younger ages.
CONCLUSIONS:
While there are no significant differences in the median time to diagnosis by sex, cases diagnosed at >70 years take longer to receive a diagnosis than cases diagnosed at younger ages. These results suggest that, in never smokers with symptoms consistent with COPD, this disease is not initially suspected, particularly in older cases.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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