Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Prevention and Management of Patients in Genaral Hospital

Background: The Cases of COPD (Chronic bronchitis, Emphysema) have recently been increase on the world wide. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the world. Okinawa has high SMR of COPD in Japan. We have conducted the survey to identify factors contributing to high mortality of COPD in Okinawa. These disease prevention and management are very important. Methods: Subjects were 23 patients aged 55-88 years (mean:73.1, Sd:8.6) who were recruited in three general hospitals in Okinawa. The questionnaire consisted following categories of questions: individual characteristics, smoking status, number of smoking cigarettes par day, age to start smoking, age of smoking cessation, duration of smoking, harmful environmental categories such as smoking, environmental circumstances , etc. Results: All patients were Emphysema. Current smokers were 6 (male:6, female:0 ), and ex-smoker were 17 (male:16, female:1). Mean of duration of smoking was 39.3 (Sd:13.7) years, and mean of Brinkman Index (BI) was 1476.5 (Sd:850.7, Range:50-3720). Mean of BI were significant different between hospitals. Starting to smoke at a young age and long years spent smoking seems to be main risk factors for COPD. Seventeen percent of patients replied that it was very disagreeable with the others to inhale cigarettes near. As for the cigarettes smoking, 52.2% replied very harmful in health and 30.4% replied harmful in health. Eighty three percent recognized that cigarettes smoking were harmful. But, seventeen percent do not understand it. Conclusions: It is necessary to perform health education for the patients who do not understand the risk factors of the COPD. And also, it is necessary to educate them about the health risks of secondhand smoke.