[Spirometric alterations and their risk factors in young ambulatory population]

Recent studies have shown that about 10% of adults aged 20-40 years in the general population have reduced spirometric values, and that this is associated with a greater risk of respiratory and non-respiratory diseases and early mortality at 20 years of follow-up. Thirty years ago, the IBERPOC study identified a very high prevalence (18%) of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the Osona region (Catalonia, Spain) in people older than 40 years of age.

To investigate the current prevalence of spirometric alterations, clinical manifestations and risk factors in adults aged 18-50 years in Osona.

Two hundred forty-one participants living in Osona were prospectively included (149 women (61,8%) and 92 men (38,2%)), with a mean age of 34,2±10,3 years, living in Osona.

Results showed that: (1) the prevalence of spirometric abnormalities before bronchodilation (1, 10,8% FVC and 7,9% FEV₁/FVC), particularly in males who also smoked more and more often worked in potentially risk labours; (2) 20-30% of participants referred respiratory symptoms, particularly in females; (3) the comparison between participants with normal or abnormal spirometry showed that the latter did not have a higher smoking exposure or early life-events but had been diagnosed of COPD, asthma or diabetes more frequently.

The 20.7% of young adults in Osona have abnormal spirometric values, similarly to the results of the IBERPOC study more than 30 years ago. The investigation of its origin merits a larger study that includes environmental, genetic and epigenetic measurements.