TY - INPR ID - discovery10163454 Y1 - 2023/01/12/ UR - https://doi.org/10.1136/thorax-2022-218675 TI - COPD in Africa: risk factors, hospitalisation, readmission and associated outcomes-a systematic review and meta-analysis N1 - This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher?s terms and conditions. JF - Thorax PB - BMJ SN - 0040-6376 A1 - Njoku, Chidiamara Maria A1 - Hurst, John R A1 - Kinsman, Leigh A1 - Balogun, Saliu A1 - Obamiro, Kehinde KW - COPD epidemiology KW - COPD exacerbations KW - long term oxygen therapy (LTOT) KW - tuberculosis N2 - BACKGROUND: This review aims to synthesise available evidence on the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), associated risk factors, hospitalisations and COPD readmissions in Africa. METHOD: Using the Met-Analyses and Systematic Reviews of Observational Studies guideline, electronic databases were searched from inception to 1 October 2021. The quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Evidence from retrieved articles was synthesised, and a random-effect model meta-analysis was conducted. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO. RESULTS: Thirty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria, with 13 included in the meta-analysis. The prevalence of COPD varied between the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (2%-24%), American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (1%-17%) and Medical Research Council chronic bronchitis (2%-11%) criteria, respectively. Increasing age, wheezing and asthma were consistent risk factors for COPD from studies included in the narrative synthesis. Our meta-analysis indicated that prior tuberculosis ((OR 5.98, 95% CI 4.18 to 8.56), smoking (OR 2.80, 95% CI: 2.19 to 3.59) and use of biomass fuel (OR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.39 to 1.67)) were significant risk factors for COPD. Long-term oxygen therapy (HR 4.97, 95% CI (1.04 to 23.74)) and frequent hospitalisation (?3 per year) (HR 11.48, 95% CI (1.31 to 100.79)) were risk factors associated with 30-day COPD readmission. CONCLUSION: This study not only highlights specific risk factors for COPD risk in Africa but also demonstrates the paucity and absence of research in several countries in a continent with substantial COPD-related mortality. Our findings contribute towards the development of evidence-based clinical guidelines for COPD in Africa.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020210581. AV - public ER -