Observational, Multi-centre, Retrospective Cohort Study to Evaluate Prevalence, Incidence, Severity, Co-morbidities and Burden of Disease in Patients With a Diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) by Close Scrutiny of the Patient Journey

Research questions:

1. What is the recorded prevalence of COPD in the UK? [numerator: the prevalence of COPD defined as ANY current READ code for COPD or inclusion in a COPD register denominator: the whole population]

• What proportion of this population has documented spirometry to confirm the diagnosis?
• What proportion has documented spirometry in the last year?
• What proportion has ever had a documented history of asthma?
• What proportion currently has a documented history of asthma?
• What proportion currently smokes?
• What proportion of smokers has a record of receiving smoking cessation advice?
• What proportion of smokers has had a prescription for smoking cessation therapy?
• What proportion of people with COPD has a READ code for exception reporting?
• What are their demographic features? (height weight, BMI, age, smoking status, forced expiratory flow in 1st second (FEV1_, DOSE)
• What proportion of people with COPD has a READ code for exception reporting from spirometry?
• What are their demographic features? (height, weight, body mass index (BMI), age, smoking status, FEV1, DOSE)

Sub analysis: descriptions and comparison of prevalence by • Age

• geographical location of participating practices