Estimación del valor promedio del indicador COPD. Chile, 2012

Objective: To determine the national average value of the COPD indicator in dentistry services of a private national health network in Chile, 2012. Methods: The study population reached 648,235 cases, with a selected sample of 16,421 individuals. Exclusion criteria were the incomplete electronic records (medical records) for the variables studied. Data were recorded in an Excel matrix, and are encrypted, thus protecting the statistical confidentiality and patients’ rights. The data were presented in age ranges, according to the criteria applied in Chile by the Ministry of Health. COPD indicator assessment was made based on classification of the World Health Organization. Statistical graphics applied were central tendency and dispersion. The association between the study variables and COPD, was estimated using the Pearson´s Chi-square test. In all cases we used a significance level of alpha <_ 0.05. Results: The national average was 3.76 (moderate). Significant association was found between COPD and the variables age, female gender and healing diagnosis.