Risk of exacerbations, hospitalisation, and mortality in adults with physician-diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with normal spirometry and adults with preserved ratio impaired spirometry in Sweden: retrospective analysis of data from a nationwide cohort studyResearch in context

Summary: Background: Physician diagnosed COPD with normal spirometry (dnsCOPD) (sometimes labeled pre-COPD) and Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry (PRISm) has been studied in population-based cohorts, but not in physician diagnosed COPD (dCOPD) patients from routine clinical practice. The Swedish...

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Main Authors: Oskar Wallström, Caroline Stridsman, Helena Backman, Sigrid Vikjord, Anne Lindberg, Fredrik Nyberg, Lowie E.G.W. Vanfleteren
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:The Lancet Regional Health. Europe
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666776225001140
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author Oskar Wallström
Caroline Stridsman
Helena Backman
Sigrid Vikjord
Anne Lindberg
Fredrik Nyberg
Lowie E.G.W. Vanfleteren
author_facet Oskar Wallström
Caroline Stridsman
Helena Backman
Sigrid Vikjord
Anne Lindberg
Fredrik Nyberg
Lowie E.G.W. Vanfleteren
author_sort Oskar Wallström
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Background: Physician diagnosed COPD with normal spirometry (dnsCOPD) (sometimes labeled pre-COPD) and Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry (PRISm) has been studied in population-based cohorts, but not in physician diagnosed COPD (dCOPD) patients from routine clinical practice. The Swedish National Airway Register (SNAR) is a large nationwide register including data from dCOPD patients from over 1000 clinics across all regions of Sweden and is representative of the COPD care in Sweden. We aimed to identify and characterize patients with dnsCOPD, PRISm and spirometrically confirmed COPD (sCOPD) from dCOPD patients in SNAR, stratify them further according to symptoms and exacerbations risk using the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) A/B/E classification, and assess differences in risk for exacerbations, cause-specific hospitalisations and mortality. Methods: We enrolled patients aged ≥30 years with dCOPD in the SNAR from 1 January 2014 to 30 June 2022 with complete spirometry i.e., postbronchodilator values for both forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) (index date). Patients with concomitant asthma were excluded. Patients were stratified into dnsCOPD (FEV1/FVC ≥0.7 and FEV1 ≥80% predicted), PRISm (FEV1/FVC ≥0.7 and FEV1 <80% predicted) and sCOPD (FEV1/FVC <0.7). Further substratification was based on GOLD A/B/E (A: COPD assessment test (CAT) score <10 points and <2 moderate, 0 severe exacerbations within 1 year before the index date, B: CAT-score ≥10 points and <2 moderate, 0 severe exacerbations, E: ≥2 moderate or ≥1 severe exacerbation(s)). Patients were followed until 31 November 2022. Competing risk regression was used to calculate subdistribution hazard ratios (SHR)s with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for exacerbation, hospitalisation and mortality. Findings: Of 45,653 patients with dCOPD, 5.4% had dnsCOPD, 11.4% had PRISm and 83.3% had sCOPD. Smoking history was similar between groups (ever smoker: dnsCOPD: 79% PRISm: 82% sCOPD: 86%) and inhalation therapy was common in all groups (any inhaler: 75%, 80% and 80%, triple combination: 22%, 28% and 35%). Patients with PRISm had a high prevalence of obesity (dnsCOPD: 30%, PRISm: 43%, COPD: 22%), cardiovascular disease (dnsCOPD: 39%, PRISm: 48%, COPD: 41%) and diabetes (dnsCOPD: 10%, PRISm: 17%, COPD: 9%). Baseline GOLD group B or E were highly prevalent in dnsCOPD (B: 54%, E: 11%), PRISm (B: 59%, E: 14%), as well as in COPD (B: 54%, E: 17%). DnsCOPD and PRISm patients had lower risk of exacerbations (SHR 0.69, 95%CI 0.64–0.74 and 0.85, 95%CI 0.81–0.89), respiratory hospitalisation (0.40, 95%CI 0.34–0.46 and 0.68, 95%CI 0.62–0.73), and respiratory mortality (0.22, 95%CI 0.13–0.37 and 0.60, 95%CI 0.48–0.75) compared to sCOPD. Cardiovascular mortality was lower in dnsCOPD (0.41, 95%CI 0.19–0.86), but similar in PRISm (0.73, 95%CI 0.49–1.08) compared to sCOPD. The A/B/E classification was predictive for all outcomes in dnsCOPD and PRISm. DnsCOPD and PRISm group E patients had higher risks for all outcomes than sCOPD group A or B. Interpretation: DnsCOPD and PRISm are prevalent in a real-life cohort of patients with a physician diagnosis of COPD. These patients are symptomatic, might suffer from exacerbations and are commonly treated with inhaled therapy, equally to sCOPD. Patients with PRISm had a high prevalence of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. DnsCOPD and PRISm had generally lower overall risks of exacerbation or respiratory events, although PRISm patients showed similar cardiovascular risk to sCOPD. The A/B/E classification predicted future events, even in dnsCOPD and PRISm patients. Funding: This study is performed with support from The Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation (20200150) and the Swedish government and country council ALF grant (ALFGBG-824371).
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spelling doaj-art-bd42c00c452f431b8bd537fb24e577482025-08-20T03:49:46ZengElsevierThe Lancet Regional Health. Europe2666-77622025-07-015410132210.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101322Risk of exacerbations, hospitalisation, and mortality in adults with physician-diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with normal spirometry and adults with preserved ratio impaired spirometry in Sweden: retrospective analysis of data from a nationwide cohort studyResearch in contextOskar Wallström0Caroline Stridsman1Helena Backman2Sigrid Vikjord3Anne Lindberg4Fredrik Nyberg5Lowie E.G.W. Vanfleteren6Dept of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SwedenDept of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, SwedenDept of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, HUNT Research Centre, NTNU, Levanger, NorwayDept of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, SwedenSchool of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SwedenDept of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Dept of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, COPD Center, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Corresponding author. Dept of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.Summary: Background: Physician diagnosed COPD with normal spirometry (dnsCOPD) (sometimes labeled pre-COPD) and Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry (PRISm) has been studied in population-based cohorts, but not in physician diagnosed COPD (dCOPD) patients from routine clinical practice. The Swedish National Airway Register (SNAR) is a large nationwide register including data from dCOPD patients from over 1000 clinics across all regions of Sweden and is representative of the COPD care in Sweden. We aimed to identify and characterize patients with dnsCOPD, PRISm and spirometrically confirmed COPD (sCOPD) from dCOPD patients in SNAR, stratify them further according to symptoms and exacerbations risk using the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) A/B/E classification, and assess differences in risk for exacerbations, cause-specific hospitalisations and mortality. Methods: We enrolled patients aged ≥30 years with dCOPD in the SNAR from 1 January 2014 to 30 June 2022 with complete spirometry i.e., postbronchodilator values for both forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) (index date). Patients with concomitant asthma were excluded. Patients were stratified into dnsCOPD (FEV1/FVC ≥0.7 and FEV1 ≥80% predicted), PRISm (FEV1/FVC ≥0.7 and FEV1 <80% predicted) and sCOPD (FEV1/FVC <0.7). Further substratification was based on GOLD A/B/E (A: COPD assessment test (CAT) score <10 points and <2 moderate, 0 severe exacerbations within 1 year before the index date, B: CAT-score ≥10 points and <2 moderate, 0 severe exacerbations, E: ≥2 moderate or ≥1 severe exacerbation(s)). Patients were followed until 31 November 2022. Competing risk regression was used to calculate subdistribution hazard ratios (SHR)s with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for exacerbation, hospitalisation and mortality. Findings: Of 45,653 patients with dCOPD, 5.4% had dnsCOPD, 11.4% had PRISm and 83.3% had sCOPD. Smoking history was similar between groups (ever smoker: dnsCOPD: 79% PRISm: 82% sCOPD: 86%) and inhalation therapy was common in all groups (any inhaler: 75%, 80% and 80%, triple combination: 22%, 28% and 35%). Patients with PRISm had a high prevalence of obesity (dnsCOPD: 30%, PRISm: 43%, COPD: 22%), cardiovascular disease (dnsCOPD: 39%, PRISm: 48%, COPD: 41%) and diabetes (dnsCOPD: 10%, PRISm: 17%, COPD: 9%). Baseline GOLD group B or E were highly prevalent in dnsCOPD (B: 54%, E: 11%), PRISm (B: 59%, E: 14%), as well as in COPD (B: 54%, E: 17%). DnsCOPD and PRISm patients had lower risk of exacerbations (SHR 0.69, 95%CI 0.64–0.74 and 0.85, 95%CI 0.81–0.89), respiratory hospitalisation (0.40, 95%CI 0.34–0.46 and 0.68, 95%CI 0.62–0.73), and respiratory mortality (0.22, 95%CI 0.13–0.37 and 0.60, 95%CI 0.48–0.75) compared to sCOPD. Cardiovascular mortality was lower in dnsCOPD (0.41, 95%CI 0.19–0.86), but similar in PRISm (0.73, 95%CI 0.49–1.08) compared to sCOPD. The A/B/E classification was predictive for all outcomes in dnsCOPD and PRISm. DnsCOPD and PRISm group E patients had higher risks for all outcomes than sCOPD group A or B. Interpretation: DnsCOPD and PRISm are prevalent in a real-life cohort of patients with a physician diagnosis of COPD. These patients are symptomatic, might suffer from exacerbations and are commonly treated with inhaled therapy, equally to sCOPD. Patients with PRISm had a high prevalence of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. DnsCOPD and PRISm had generally lower overall risks of exacerbation or respiratory events, although PRISm patients showed similar cardiovascular risk to sCOPD. The A/B/E classification predicted future events, even in dnsCOPD and PRISm patients. Funding: This study is performed with support from The Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation (20200150) and the Swedish government and country council ALF grant (ALFGBG-824371).http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666776225001140COPDPhysician diagnosed COPD with normal spirometryPRISmExacerbationRegister
spellingShingle Oskar Wallström
Caroline Stridsman
Helena Backman
Sigrid Vikjord
Anne Lindberg
Fredrik Nyberg
Lowie E.G.W. Vanfleteren
Risk of exacerbations, hospitalisation, and mortality in adults with physician-diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with normal spirometry and adults with preserved ratio impaired spirometry in Sweden: retrospective analysis of data from a nationwide cohort studyResearch in context
The Lancet Regional Health. Europe
COPD
Physician diagnosed COPD with normal spirometry
PRISm
Exacerbation
Register
title Risk of exacerbations, hospitalisation, and mortality in adults with physician-diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with normal spirometry and adults with preserved ratio impaired spirometry in Sweden: retrospective analysis of data from a nationwide cohort studyResearch in context
title_full Risk of exacerbations, hospitalisation, and mortality in adults with physician-diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with normal spirometry and adults with preserved ratio impaired spirometry in Sweden: retrospective analysis of data from a nationwide cohort studyResearch in context
title_fullStr Risk of exacerbations, hospitalisation, and mortality in adults with physician-diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with normal spirometry and adults with preserved ratio impaired spirometry in Sweden: retrospective analysis of data from a nationwide cohort studyResearch in context
title_full_unstemmed Risk of exacerbations, hospitalisation, and mortality in adults with physician-diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with normal spirometry and adults with preserved ratio impaired spirometry in Sweden: retrospective analysis of data from a nationwide cohort studyResearch in context
title_short Risk of exacerbations, hospitalisation, and mortality in adults with physician-diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with normal spirometry and adults with preserved ratio impaired spirometry in Sweden: retrospective analysis of data from a nationwide cohort studyResearch in context
title_sort risk of exacerbations hospitalisation and mortality in adults with physician diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with normal spirometry and adults with preserved ratio impaired spirometry in sweden retrospective analysis of data from a nationwide cohort studyresearch in context
topic COPD
Physician diagnosed COPD with normal spirometry
PRISm
Exacerbation
Register
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666776225001140
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