Differences in the Spirometry Parameters Between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Patients with COPD: A Matched Control...

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Respiratory Health
• Indigenous Health

Background:

• Limited data exists on spirometry parameter comparisons between Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Understanding these differences is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management of COPD in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare lung function parameters (LFPs), specifically spirometry values, between Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients diagnosed with COPD.
• To assess differences in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and FEV1/FVC ratio, considering age, sex, height, and smoking status.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study included Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients diagnosed with COPD between 2012-2020 based on post-bronchodilator (BD) spirometry criteria.
• Analysis compared spirometry parameters, including lower limit of normal (LLN) values, between the two ethnic groups, with a matched cohort analysis.

Main Results:

• Indigenous patients with COPD were younger, had a higher proportion of females, were more underweight, and were more likely to be current smokers.
• Prior to matching, Indigenous patients showed significantly lower percent predicted values for FVC (17%), FEV1 (17%), and FEV1/FVC ratio (-2 points).
• Even in a matched cohort, Indigenous patients' LFPs remained significantly lower (16% for FVC, 16% for FEV1, and -4 for FEV1/FVC ratio), despite no significant differences in LLN values.

Conclusions:

• Indigenous Australian patients with COPD exhibit distinct demographic and clinical characteristics compared to non-Indigenous patients.
• Significantly lower lung function parameters in Indigenous patients suggest potential differences in disease severity, underscoring the need for population-specific reference values.