Early detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in general practice

Approximately 50% of the people with COPD are not aware of having the disease. However, the prevalence of COPD is increasing. COPD threatens to become the third leading cause of death in Europe by 2020. This dissertation focusses on a short questionnaire with the ability to detect COPD aimed at people over forty. That is important, as the reduction in lung capacity in patients diagnosed with COPD can be limited and health care costs will eventually be lower, as previously conducted research has shown. When the general practitioner offers active assistance, twice as many patients fill in this questionnaire. This also goes for disadvantaged areas. It was found that the percentage of patients who smoked was very high, and so was their motivation to stop smoking. Politicians and policymakers should be asked to financially support the infrastructure, allowing COPD patients to be detected earlier.