Level of Awareness About Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Among Active Smokers

Smoking is considered the primary cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It has been shown that approximately half of smokers develop COPD at some point in their lives. Several studies have examined COPD awareness in the general population. However, data on awareness among active smokers remain limited. This study aims to assess the level of COPD awareness among current smokers.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among active smokers. Recruitment was performed via non-probability convenience sampling through commonly used social media platforms. An online survey was utilized to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, health status, COPD awareness levels, and smokers' perceptions after learning about COPD. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify determinants of COPD awareness.

The total number of respondents was 455 active smokers. Of those, 342 (75%) were male. The mean age of participants was 35 ± 11 years. Although COPD-related symptoms were reported by 324 participants (71.2% of the total sample), only 91 participants (20%) indicated being aware of COPD. The most common symptoms reported were sputum production (209 participants, 46%), shortness of breath (167 participants, 36.7%), and cough (166 participants, 36.4%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis for determinants of COPD awareness showed that none of the predictors (sex, years of smoking, level of education, and COPD-related symptoms) were statistically significant. Among COPD-related symptoms, coughing (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.62, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.35-1.08, p = 0.089) and sputum production (aOR = 1.48, 95% CI: 0.86-2.55, p = 0.160) showed trends toward association with COPD awareness but were still not statistically significant. The most common sources of knowledge about COPD were healthcare providers (34%) and social media platforms (31.8%).

The level of COPD awareness is low among active smokers, which might hinder early diagnosis and delay timely interventions. Healthcare providers and social media may promote awareness. Therefore, the advocacy role of healthcare providers may need encouragement, and Social media platforms may support culturally tailored COPD awareness campaigns.