GOLD spirometry criteria overdiagnosed COPD

In a community-based sample of 3,802 Spaniards aged 40-80, 4.6% had FEV1/FVC <0.7 but above the lower limit of normal. Mostly older men, they had the same respiratory exacerbation frequency, activity levels, cardiovascular risk, and 6-minute walk distances as matched controls with a ratio >0.7. They did report lower health-related quality of life in all domains surveyed compared to controls, Garcia-Rio et al report. CHEST 2011;139:1072-1080.