Impacts of Measuring Lung Age Through the COPD Awareness Event

Abstract

Background:

Chronic Respiratory Certified Nurses (CRCN) conducted an event to facilitate people's awareness of COPD. Information about COPD was displayed in the events which was held in a shopping center in Fukui. Attendants got a pulmonary function test and received own lung function result (lunge age). The purpose of this study is to clarify the impacts of the event and knowing own lung age.

Methods:

They were also asked to answer a questionnaire which was consisted about impacts of the event and knowing about own lung age. This project was approved by ethical review in of the Ethical Committee of the University of Fukui.

Results:

There were 198 people attended the event and 189 subjects responded the questionnaire (95% response rate). There were 79 smokers or ex-smokers (41.8%) and 108 non-smokers (57. 1%). Range of the subjects age was 18 to 92 years and the mean age was 53. 2 ± 18. 7. The mean of lung age was 58 ± 23.5. There were135 (71%) subjects who had never received a pulmonary function test in past. The mean gap between actual age and lung age was significantly higher in the smokers than the non-smokers (7.80 vs 1.80, t (178) = -2.04, P = 0.022). There was a positive correlation between actual and lung age difference and motivation to change of lifestyle (rs=0.19, P<0.01). But there was no significant correlation between actual and lung age difference and motivation to receiving health check (rs=0.09P=0.23).

Conclusions:

These results showed exposure of COPD information and recognizing own lung age stimulated people's awareness of changing life styles and health related behaviors. When a person notices that his/her lung age is older than his/her actual age, hi/she might feel sense of health crises. Among smokers, lung age was higher than actual age, and this result was similar to those of previous studies. Knowing about own lung age seemed to be significantly stronger trigger to change their lifestyle. Because a pulmonary function test is not included in the regular health check-ups in Japan, most of people do not know their own lung functions and lung age. However, recognition of own lung age has impact on motivations of changing life styles, therefor, facilitating measurements of lung age is important for early detection of COPD. As CRCNs, we should more focus on preventive interventions as well as patient cares. We will continue to provide COPD information for people with all range of health.