Abstract
We studied the prevalence, burden and potential risk factors for chronic bronchitis symptoms in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study.
Representative population-based samples of adults aged ≥40 years were selected in participating sites. Participants completed questionnaires and spirometry. Chronic bronchitis symptoms were defined as chronic cough and phlegm on most days for ≥3 months each year for ≥2 years.
Data from 24 855 subjects from 33 sites in 29 countries were analysed. There were significant differences in the prevalence of self-reported symptoms meeting our definition of chronic bronchitis across sites, from 10.8% in Lexington (KY, USA), to 0% in Ile-Ife (Nigeria) and Blantyre (Malawi). Older age, less education, current smoking, occupational exposure to fumes, self-reported diagnosis of asthma or lung cancer and family history of chronic lung disease were all associated with increased risk of chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis symptoms were associated with worse lung function, more dyspnoea, increased risk of respiratory exacerbations and reduced quality of life, independent of the presence of other lung diseases.
The prevalence of chronic bronchitis symptoms varied widely across the studied sites. Chronic bronchitis symptoms were associated with significant burden both in individuals with chronic airflow obstruction and those with normal lung function.
Abstract
Chronic bronchitis symptoms are associated with significant burden regardless of the presence of airflow obstruction http://ow.ly/kP9P30eFELK
Footnotes
Support statement: the list of the BOLD study sponsors can be found at the BOLD website (www.boldstudy.org/sponsors.html). The sponsors had no role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation or writing of the report.
Conflict of interest: None declared.
- Received March 24, 2017.
- Accepted August 10, 2017.
- Copyright ©ERS 2017
This version is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence 4.0.