Respiratory symptoms and risk factors in an Arizona population sample of Anglo and Mexican-American whites.

Prevalence rates of respiratory symptoms and diseases in a large group of Anglos and Mexican-Americans were analyzed. Each subject completed a questionnaire. Among current smokers, chronic productive cough and dyspnea were significantly higher in both ethnic groups; wheezy symptoms were higher in Anglos. There were no significant differences in the symptom prevalence rates between the two groups, after stratifying by current cigarette consumption and CRT. The spirometric values were not significantly different. In both ethnic groups, the prevalence rates of wheeze, SOBWHZ and asthma were significantly higher in those who had CRT. Among Anglos, less educated smokers had significantly higher prevalence rates of SOBWHZ and dyspnea; nonsmokers with less education had higher prevalence rates of cough, chronic cough and dyspnea. Our results confirm the importance of CRT and lower educational level as risk factors for respiratory symptoms. Ethnicity is not associated with symptomatology or lung function impairment.

[1]  G. Viegi,et al.  Prevalence of respiratory symptoms in an unpolluted area of northern Italy. , 1988, The European respiratory journal.

[2]  M. Lebowitz,et al.  Epidemiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. , 1990, Clinics in chest medicine.

[3]  M. Lebowitz,et al.  Epidemiological study of respiratory responses to indoor/outdoor air quality , 1989 .

[4]  T. Thom,et al.  Mortality from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and asthma in France, 1969-1983. Comparisons with the United States and Canada. , 1990, Chest.

[5]  J. Hogg,et al.  Reassessment of inflammation of airways in chronic bronchitis. , 1985, British medical journal.

[6]  L. Allegra,et al.  Diagnostic labels applied to model case histories of chronic airflow obstruction. Responses to a questionnaire in 11 North American and Western European countries. , 1989, The European respiratory journal.

[7]  G. Viegi,et al.  Effects of childhood and adolescence-adulthood respiratory infections in a general population. , 1989, The European respiratory journal.

[8]  J. Samet,et al.  Respiratory disease in a New Mexico population sample of Hispanic and non-Hispanic whites. , 1982, The American review of respiratory disease.

[9]  A. Gulsvik.  Prevalence of respiratory symptoms in the city of Oslo. , 1979, Scandinavian journal of respiratory diseases.

[10]  M. Lebowitz,et al.  Relationships between pulmonary function and changes in chronic respiratory symptoms. Comparison of Tucson and Cracow longitudinal studies. , 1990, Chest.

[11]  M. Lebowitz,et al.  A reexamination of risk factors for ventilatory impairment. , 1988, The American review of respiratory disease.

[12]  F. Kauffmann,et al.  Is respiratory mucus hypersecretion really an innocent disorder? A 22-year mortality survey of 1,061 working men. , 1986, The American review of respiratory disease.

[13]  G. Little,et al.  The natural history of chronic bronchitis and emphysema , 1979 .

[14]  M. Lebowitz,et al.  The relationship of childhood respiratory illness to adult obstructive airway disease. , 2015, The American review of respiratory disease.

[15]  T. Petty.  The National Mucolytic Study. Results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of iodinated glycerol in chronic obstructive bronchitis. , 1990, Chest.

[16]  A. Buist,et al.  Lung function in North American Indian children: reference standards for spirometry, maximal expiratory flow volume curves, and peak expiratory flow. , 1982, The American review of respiratory disease.

[17]  R. Crapo,et al.  Normal spirometric values in healthy American Indians. , 1988, Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association.

[18]  E. Huhti,et al.  A 10-year follow-up study of respiratory symptoms and ventilatory function in a middle-aged rural population. , 1980 .

[19]  M. Lebowitz,et al.  Characteristics of chronic bronchitis in a warm, dry region. , 1975, The American review of respiratory disease.

[20]  M. Lebowitz,et al.  Tucson epidemiologic study of obstructive lung diseases. I: Methodology and prevalence of disease. , 1975, American journal of epidemiology.

[21]  J. Hodgkin,et al.  COPD prevalence in nonsmokers in high and low photochemical air pollution areas. , 1984, Chest.

[22]  M. Lebowitz.  The trends in airway obstructive disease morbidity in the Tucson Epidemiological Study. , 1989, The American review of respiratory disease.

[23]  J. Vestbo,et al.  Respiratory symptoms and FEV1 as predictors of hospitalization and medication in the following 12 years due to respiratory disease. , 1989, The European respiratory journal.