Protocol: Evidence map of screening for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the general adult population

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung diseases including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Screening people for COPD, for example via risk assessment questionnaires or lung funtion tests such as spirometry, may mean it can be diagnosed and treated at an earlier stage. This evidence map, commissioned by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), aims to summarise the volume and type of evidence relating to: 1) the effect of screening for COPD in previously undiagnosed adults on morbidity, mortality and health-related quality of life; and 2) the effect of screening for COPD in previously undiagnosed adults on smoking cessation rate.