Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 12, 2025

Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 24, 2019
Characteristics and Prevalence of Early Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in a Middle-Aged Population: Results
Taeyun Kim1, Jehun Kim2, Jun Hyeong Kim3
1Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Armed Forces Goyang Hospital, Goyang-si, South Korea.
Introduction:
Few studies have examined the prevalence and associated factors of early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Asians.
Objective:
To evaluate the prevalence of early COPD and its associated factors among non-institutionalized middle-aged Korean adults.
Methods:
A total of 3195 participants aged 40-49 years from the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included in this study. Patients (1) aged less than 50 years, (2) with a minimum of 10 pack-years of smoking, and (3) with forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) below the lower limit of normal were diagnosed with early COPD. The prevalence and odds ratio (OR) for early COPD were measured using multivariate logistic regression analysis, and the demographic data, anthropometric measurements, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle factors were considered covariates.
Results:
The overall prevalence of early COPD among the middle-aged Korean population was 2.4% (4.4% in men and 0.4% in women), while that in participants with ≥10 pack-years was 8.2% (8.1% in men and 11.3% in women). A multivariate logistic regression model showed that male sex, urban residence, chronic sputum production, and hypertriglyceridemia were associated with increased ORs for early COPD in middle-aged, non-institutionalized Korean adults.
Conclusion:
Early COPD is prevalent among middle-aged smokers in Korea. Efforts are needed to reduce the potential negative effects of early COPD on public health in Korea and other Asian countries.
More Related Videos
04:03Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Therapeutic Efficacy of Moving Cupping Along Meridians for Acute Exacerbation of COPD
Published on: September 27, 2024
04:53Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach
Published on: October 18, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...