Prevalencia y tratamiento de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica en adultos: Análisis de datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud Chile

Abstract

Objective: To describe COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) prevalence in Chile, alongside with comorbidities, treatment patterns and self-perceived quality of life (QoL), using National Health Survey (NHS) data. Methods: NHS data from 2016-2017for adults aged > 40 years were analy- zed. COPD was identified through self-report. Sociodemographic variables, QoL and health, smoking, comorbidities and treatment patterns were evaluated. Results: COPD prevalence was estimated at 3.2%. 68.5% were not receiving COPD treatment. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) plus long-acting beta agonist (LABA) was the most frequently used maintenance therapy (44.8%), followed by short-acting beta agonist (SABA) and/or short-acting muscarinic antagonist (SAMA) (29.5%). ICS was the main the- rapeutic class used as monotherapy (92.4%) and in combination with LABA as dual therapy (95.4%). Frequency of self-perceived QoL and health as very bad/bad/less than regular was twice as high among individuals with COPD compared with total NHS sample, and a higher frequency of subjects had at least some problems in all EQ-5D-3L domains. Actual smoker frequency was similar. Treatment was most frequently prescribed by a general physician (60.3%/67.1%, occasional/maintenance medication) and accessed at the office, hospital or public healthcare system network (83.9%/80.8%). Conclusion: COPD has a substantial impact in Chile. Additionally, a very low treatment rate was observed.