Prevalence of COPD-Defined Airflow Obstruction in Undiagnosed Subjects with Symptoms of Chronic Bronchitis in Primary Care.

PURPOSE: COPD is a disease with common and increasing morbidity and mortality that is often under diagnosed and under treated. Detecting patients at high risk for having COPD may help improve disease recognition and management. We evaluated the prevalence of airway obstruction consistent with COPD in primary care patients with a history of cigarette smoking and symptoms of chronic cough, but no COPD diagnosis.