A RESearch on the PrEvalence and the Diagnosis of COPD and Its Tobacco-related Etiology

The aim of the RESPECT study is to gain a better understanding of the prevalence, pathogenesis and symptoms of early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study seeks to address the following specific objectives/research questions: 1) to estimate the prevalence of airflow limitation (AL) and COPD in adults 35-70 years of age in St.Petersburg and Arkhangelsk based on sex, age, environmental conditions, socioeconomic status and smoking status; 2) to compare the prevalence of COPD in the study population based on the Global Strategy for Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of COPD (GOLD) and lower limit of normal (LLN) criteria; 3) to identify the diagnostic value of various signs, symptoms and background characteristics for the diagnosis of COPD; 4) to determine whether differences in background characteristics and inflammatory biomarkers are evident between smokers with and without COPD; and 5) to describe co-morbidity, functionality and global health status in a cohort of newly diagnosed COPD patients.