Estimating Chronic Respiratory Disease (Asthma and COPD) burden in adults in Asian LMICs: a pilot study for 4CCORD [4 Country ChrOnic Respiratory Disease study]

<b>Background:</b> Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRD) especially asthma and COPD are global health problems. Although the majority of deaths and disability from CRD occur in LMICs, the true burden of CRD is unclear. Widely used questionnaire-based tools have poor sensitivity and specificity, and the use of spirometry in the community is challenging. <b>Aim:</b> To estimate the burden of CRD (Asthma and COPD) in adults in Asian LMICs. <b>Method:</b> We undertook a community-based survey at five sites in four countries [Bangladesh (1); India (2); Malaysia (1); Pakistan (1)] using random sampling strategies, questionnaire (adapted from BOLD informed by our scoping review) and quality-assured spirometry. We made a provisional diagnosis of asthma, COPD or other CRD based on questionnaire/spirometry data (using a 70%…