Characteristics of COPD in never-smokers and ever-smokers in the general population: results from the CanCOLD study

Background There is limited data on the risk factors and phenotypical characteristics associated with spirometrically confirmed COPD in never-smokers in the general population. Aims To compare the characteristics associated with COPD by gender and by severity of airway obstruction in never-smokers and in ever-smokers. Method We analysed the data from 5176 adults aged 40 years and older who participated in the initial cross-sectional phase of the population-based, prospective, multisite Canadian Cohort of Obstructive Lung Disease study. Never-smokers were defined as those with a lifetime exposure of <1/20 pack year. Logistic regressions were constructed to evaluate associations for 'mild' and 'moderate-severe' COPD defined by FEV1/FVC <5th centile (lower limits of normal). Analyses were performed using SAS V.9.1 (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina, USA). Results The prevalence of COPD (FEV1/FVC