ArticleThe Malaysian journal of medical sciences : MJMS2018
Assessing Airflow Limitation among Smokers in a Primary Care Setting.
Article in The Malaysian journal of medical sciences : MJMS, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Estimating the global prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC public health · 2024Pooled it
- Uptake rate of influenza vaccines and its associated factors among patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Klang Valley: A health belief model study.Malaysian family physician : the official journal of the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMany smokers have undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and yet screening for COPD is not recommended. Smokers who know that they have airflow limitation are more likely to quit smoking. This study aims to identify the prevalence and predictors of airflow limitation among smokers in primary care.
methodsCurrent smokers ≥ 40 years old who were asymptomatic clinic attendees in a primary care setting were recruited consecutively for two months. We used a two-step strategy. Step 1: participants filled in a questionnaire. Step 2: Assessment of airflow limitation using a pocket spirometer. Multiple logistic regression was utilised to determine the best risk predictors for airflow limitation.
resultsThree hundred participants were recruited. Mean age was 58.35 (SD 10.30) years old and mean smoking history was 34.56 pack-years (SD 25.23). One in two smokers were found to have airflow limitation; the predictors were Indian ethnicity, prolonged smoking pack-year history and Lung Function Questionnaire score ≤ 18. Readiness to quit smoking and the awareness of COPD were low.
conclusionsThe high prevalence of airflow limitation and low readiness to quit smoking imply urgency with helping smokers to quit smoking. Identifying airflow limitation as an additional motivator for smoking cessation intervention may be considered. A two-step case-finding method is potentially feasible.
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