[Chronic obstructive lung disease in the general population. An epidemiologic study performed in Guipúzcoa]

To perform a cross-sectional descriptive study of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the general population. We studied 600 men aged between 40 and 60 from a random sample (69.9% of the total, 76.6% eligible subjects). Each subject answered a questionnaire, underwent spirometric testing and measurement of CO in expired air. Smokers accounted for 50.8% of the sample, although only 24.8% of the population had CO levels in expired air greater than 10 ppm. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis was 9.2%. Forty subjects (6.8%), only 25% of whom had previously undergone spirometry, met the criteria for air flow limitation. Air flow limitation was associated with chronic bronchitis and smoking, which were also mutually associated. Our data underline the need to combat smoking, given its relation with chronic bronchitis and airflow limitation, as well as to perform spirometry more routinely, mainly in smokers or patients with symptoms of chronic bronchitis.