Greater progression of COPD in low income ever-smokers

Rationale: Economic factors affect health outcomes in many diseases, including COPD. Aims: Determine the association of low income to symptoms, quality of life and disease progression using longitudinal change in CT-based measures of emphysema and lung function. Methods: 4386 subjects from Phase 2 COPDGene reported annual income. The lowest income group ( Results: The ExtrLo group was significantly younger, with more current smokers, exacerbations (13.2% vs. 6.5%, p Conclusions: Extreme-low-income smokers have more symptoms and less emphysema at baseline but show greater spirometric and radiographic disease progression without signficant change in symptoms over a five year period. Continued high smoking rates may be the key factor in disease progression in this population.