PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - G.J. Huchon AU - A. Vergnenègre AU - F. Neukirch AU - G. Brami AU - N. Roche AU - P-M. Preux TI - Chronic bronchitis among French adults: high prevalence and underdiagnosis AID - 10.1183/09031936.02.00042002 DP - 2002 Oct 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - 806--812 VI - 20 IP - 4 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/20/4/806.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/20/4/806.full SO - Eur Respir J2002 Oct 01; 20 AB - The aims of this survey were to determine the prevalence of symptoms indicative of chronic bronchitis (CB) in the French adult population, to identify the role of risk factors for CB, and to assess rates of CB diagnosis and pulmonary function testing (PFT) in the presence of CB. A representative sample of 14,076 individuals aged ≥25 yrs completed a self-administered questionnaire on symptoms, comorbidities, smoking history, sociodemographical data, and diagnosis and care by physicians. The prevalence of CB was 4.1% and the prevalence of chronic cough and/or expectoration was 11.7%. In individuals with comorbidity, these figures were 10.4% and 24.4%, respectively. Smoking was associated with an increased frequency of CB. In subjects with CB, 44.6% had PFT (spirometry or peak expiratory flow measurement), 24% were diagnosed as having CB, and 7.2% received care. Rates of diagnosis, PFT, and follow-up were lower in young individuals and in those without comorbidity. PFT and follow-up were less common in current smokers. Prevalence of chronic bronchitis in French adults is high and similar in magnitude to that of other industrialised countries. Comorbidities and tobacco smoking increase the frequency of chronic bronchitis symptoms. Chronic bronchitis is too infrequently diagnosed, investigated and cared for. This study was supported by grants from GlaxoSmithKline and Association pour l'Etude de la Respiration et de l'Environnement.