ArticleRespiratory research2017
Altitude and COPD prevalence: analysis of the PREPOCOL-PLATINO-BOLD-EPI-SCAN study.
Article in Respiratory research, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers.
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Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed.
- Development and validation of nomogram including high altitude as a risk factor for COPD: A cross-sectional study based on Gansu population.Frontiers in public health · 2023Trial
- Effect of chronic high-altitude exposure on postoperative pulmonary complications: a retrospective cohort study.Annals of medicine · 2026Article
- High-Altitude Residence, Blood Biomarkers, and Chronic Disease Risk in Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Adults.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Friend or foe: Face masks in patients with COPD at high altitude.Physiological reports · 2026Review
- Development of a high-altitude renal disease diagnostic model based on machine learning and multiple biomarker detection: a retrospective study of 19,068 patients.BMC nephrology · 2026Article
- Risk of bleeding in transbronchial biopsies in patients with pulmonary hypertension.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Rapid-onset respiratory failure following diesel aspiration at 4,200 m: a case report.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Differences in survival between two cohorts of COPD patients living in Mexico City: a 20-year cohort comparison.Respiratory research & clinical practice · 2026Article
- Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in high-risk populations at low, intermediate, high altitudes: a population based cross-sectional study in Yunnan Province, China.BMC pulmonary medicine · 2025Article
- The Risk Factors and Predictors of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome at Plateau.The clinical respiratory journal · 2025Article
- COPD With Lung Cancer Among Older United States Adults: Prevalence, Diagnostic Timeliness, and Association With Earlier Stage Tumors.Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (Miami, Fla.) · 2024Article
- Prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Its Associated Risk Factors in Yunnan Province, China: A Population Based Cross-Sectional Study.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2024Article
- Comparison of the lower limit of normal to the fixed ratio method for the diagnosis of airflow obstruction at high altitudes: a large cross-sectional survey of subjects living between 3000-4700 m above sea level.European journal of medical research · 2023Article
- Clinical and Radiological Features Between Patients with Stable COPD from Plateau and Flatlands: A Comparative Study.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2023Observational
- Revisiting the COVID-19 fatality rate and altitude association through a comprehensive analysis.Scientific reports · 2022Article
- Profile and preliminary results of Iranian sub cohort chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Shahrekord PERSIAN cohort in southwest Iran.BMC pulmonary medicine · 2021Article
- Pulmonary Hypertension in Acute and Chronic High Altitude Maladaptation Disorders.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Review
- Prevalence of different comorbidities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among Shahrekord PERSIAN cohort study in southwest Iran.Scientific reports · 2021Article
- Clinical and Radiological Features of COPD Patients Living at ≥3000 m Above Sea Level in the Tibet Plateau.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2021Observational
- Exercise Capacity, Ventilatory Response, and Gas Exchange in COPD Patients With Mild to Severe Obstruction Residing at High Altitude.Frontiers in physiology · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
24 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundCOPD prevalence is highly variable and geographical altitude has been linked to it, yet with conflicting results. We aimed to investigate this association, considering well known risk factors.
methodsA pooled analysis of individual data from the PREPOCOL-PLATINO-BOLD-EPI-SCAN studies was used to disentangle the population effect of geographical altitude on COPD prevalence. Post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC below the lower limit of normal defined airflow limitation consistent with COPD. High altitude was defined as >1500 m above sea level. Undiagnosed COPD was considered when participants had airflow limitation but did not report a prior diagnosis of COPD.
resultsAmong 30,874 participants aged 56.1 ± 11.3 years from 44 sites worldwide, 55.8% were women, 49.6% never-smokers, and 12.9% (3978 subjects) were residing above 1500 m. COPD prevalence was significantly lower in participants living at high altitude with a prevalence of 8.5% compared to 9.9%, respectively (p < 0.005). However, known risk factors were significantly less frequent at high altitude. Hence, in the adjusted multivariate analysis, altitude itself had no significant influence on COPD prevalence. Living at high altitude, however, was associated with a significantly increased risk of undiagnosed COPD. Furthermore, subjects with airflow limitation living at high altitude reported significantly less respiratory symptoms compared to subjects residing at lower altitude.
conclusionLiving at high altitude is not associated with a difference in COPD prevalence after accounting for individual risk factors. However, high altitude itself was associated with an increased risk of undiagnosed COPD.
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