The Prevalence of Emphysema in Patients Undergoing Lung Cancer Screening in a Middle-Income Country
<b>Background:</b> Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer are the leading causes of death globally, which share common risk factors such as age and smoking exposure. In high-income countries, low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening programs have de...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/5/146 |
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| Summary: | <b>Background:</b> Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer are the leading causes of death globally, which share common risk factors such as age and smoking exposure. In high-income countries, low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening programs have decreased lung cancer mortality and facilitated the detection of emphysema, a key radiological indicator of COPD. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of emphysema during a pilot LDCT screening program for lung cancer in a middle-income country with a high smoking prevalence. <b>Methods:</b> A secondary analysis of the Lung Cancer Screening Database of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia, from 20 September 2020 to 30 May 2022. Persons aged 50–74 years, with a smoking history of ≥30 pack-years/or ≥20 pack-years with additional risks (chronic lung disease, prior pneumonia, malignancy other than lung cancer, family history of lung cancer, and professional exposure to carcinogens) were offered LDCT. <b>Results:</b> Of 1288 participants, mean age of 62.1 ± 6.7 years and 535 males (41.5%), 386 (30.0%) had emphysema. The majority of patients with emphysema (301/386, 78.0%) had no prior history of chronic lung diseases. Compared to the patients without emphysema, the patients with emphysema reported more shortness of breath (140/386, 36.3% vs. 276/902, 30.6%, <i>p</i> = 0.046), chronic cough (117/386, 30.3% vs. 209/902, 23.17% <i>p</i> = 0.007), purulent sputum expectoration (70/386, 18.1% vs. 95/902, 10.53%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and weight loss (45/386, 11.7% vs. 63/902, 7.0%, <i>p</i> = 0.005). The patients with emphysema had more exposure to smoking (pack/years, 43.8 ± 18.8 vs. 39.3 ± 18.1, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and higher prevalence of solid or semisolid lung nodules (141/386, 36.5% vs. 278/902 30.8%, <i>p</i> = 0.04). <b>Conclusions:</b> Almost one-third of the patients who underwent the LDCT screening program in a middle-income country had emphysema that was commonly undiagnosed despite being associated with a significant symptom burden. Spirometry screening should be considered in high-risk populations. |
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| ISSN: | 2079-9721 |