{
  "abstract": "BackgroundPopulation-based spirometry data from sub-Saharan Africa remain limited. We characterised lung function, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung restriction and associated factors from two Sub-Saharan African countries.\n\nMethodsWe performed spirometry using ndd Easy On-PC spirometers among adults aged [≥]40 years from population-based cohorts in four communities in Burkina Faso and South Africa from January 2019-April 2022. We included 1,619 participants (936 women, 683 men) with repeatable forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). COPD was defined as FEV1/FVC<0.70 and lung restriction as FEV1/FVC[≥]0.70, with FVC<80% predicted. We used multivariable models to test factors associated with lung function measurements (FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC), COPD and lung restriction.\n\nResultsMedian FEV1 and FVC ranged from 1.940-2.273L and 2.521-2.883L, respectively. COPD prevalence was 16.1% (95% CI 14.4-18.0; site range 10.8%-24.5%) and lung restriction prevalence was 21.3% (95% CI 19.4-23.4; site range 11.3%-36.2%). Prior tuberculosis was associated with higher odds of COPD (OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.75-4.59) and lower FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC. HIV infection was associated with higher COPD odds (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.01-2.72) and lower FEV1/FVC. Hypertension was associated with higher lung restriction odds (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.07-2.00) and lower FEV1 and FVC. Diabetes was associated with lower COPD odds (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.24-0.94), lower FVC and higher FEV1/FVC. Ever-smoking and older age were associated with higher COPD odds (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.48-3.32; OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.07, respectively); older age was associated with higher lung restriction odds (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.04).\n\nConclusionThis multisite study highlights substantial heterogeneity in COPD and lung restriction prevalence across African populations and identifies respiratory multimorbidity with infectious and cardiometabolic conditions. These findings provide population-based evidence to inform respiratory surveillance in sub-Saharan Africa.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Division of Public Health and Epidemiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Leicester, UK"
  ],
  "article_type": "PUBLISHAHEADOFPRINT",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 15,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "E. Adonyo"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. Chen"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. John"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. Packer"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Ramsay"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Batini"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. v. Zyl-Smit"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Mer"
    },
    {
      "name": "P. R. Boua"
    },
    {
      "name": "G. Agongo"
    },
    {
      "name": "F. X. Gomez-Olive"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. G. Mashaba"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. D. Tobin"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. L. Guyatt"
    },
    {
      "name": "L. Micklesfield"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/66jk9ya27zvkc.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.22.26363668",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.22.26363668v1.full",
  "id": "66jk9ya27zvkc",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.22.26363668v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "medrxiv",
      "epidemiology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2740|Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214067430",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.22.26363668v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-22",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/66jk9ya27zvkc.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:18Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.22.26363668",
      "source": "medrxiv",
      "url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.22.26363668v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "medrxiv:epidemiology",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Lung function variability and the burden of COPD and lung restriction in South Africa and Burkina Faso: results from the AWI-Gen study",
  "title_text": "Lung function variability and the burden of COPD and lung restriction in South Africa and Burkina Faso: results from the AWI-Gen study",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:18Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/66jk9ya27zvkc",
  "venue": "medRxiv",
  "versions": []
}