Lung function tests relate to how well our lungs are working and measure such things as how much air our lungs can hold and how easily we can breathe in and out. All individuals have some decline in their lung function over time, particularly in later life. People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) lose lung function faster than the general population, particularly those who continue to smoke. Lower lung function is associated with premature death and may lead to the inability to perform simple physical tasks such as walking short distances unaided. Studies done on lung function decline in COPD patients however are usually in more severe COPD; i.e. those seen by hospital specialists or in relation to a clinical trial, not who are treated by their general practitioner. It is not clear how fast this decline is in a milder, primary care cohort or if different commonly measured factors may be associated with the rate of decline. Using statistical models, we will describe how lung function changes in people with COPD over a 10 year time period and look at which groups of patients have the biggest decline.
People with COPD have a faster decline in their lung function than people without COPD. However, little is known about how quickly lung function decline in a primary care cohort in an average COPD patient. Additionally, among people with COPD the speed with which lung function is lost varies, and these individuals may represent a distinct phenotype. Using a mixed effects liner model, we will investigate decline in lung function in people with prevalent COPD over a 10 year period, we will also stratify this analysis by several important factors to explore whether lung function decline is more rapid in certain groups.
Jennifer Quint - Chief Investigator - Imperial College London
Kieran Rothnie - Collaborator - GlaxoSmithKline Services Unlimited (UK)
Steven Kiddle - Collaborator - AstraZeneca Ltd - UK Headquarters
HES Admitted Patient Care;Patient Level Index of Multiple Deprivation;Practice Level Index of Multiple Deprivation