A study to evaluate the test accuracy of different screening strategies for identifying undiagnosed COPD in China, amongst patients (≥40 years) attending community health centres.
Research question:
What are the most cost effective screening strategies for identifying undiagnosed COPD in the general population in China?
Study design
Cross-sectional study (screening test accuracy)
Population:
General population, aged ≥40 years, living in four cities in China: Beijing (North), Chengdu (South West), Guangzhou (South), Shenyang (North East).
Recruitment:
Eligible patients attending community centers will be invited to attend a study assessment session. Consented patients will undertake study measures including screening tests (questionnaires, peak flow and microspirometry) and diagnostic quality spirometry.
Sample size:
The study will aim to recruit approximately 2,600 patients.
Analysis:
Test performance (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, area under the curve) of all screening tests and strategies will be compared against quality diagnostic spirometry. A diagnosis of COPD (the reference standard) will be defined as airflow obstruction based on the lower limit of normal using the Global Lung Initiative (GLI) equations, according to post-bronchodilator quality diagnostic spirometry.