RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Chronic bronchitis among French adults: high prevalence and underdiagnosis
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 806
OP 812
DO 10.1183/09031936.02.00042002
VO 20
IS 4
A1 G.J. Huchon
A1 A. Vergnenègre
A1 F. Neukirch
A1 G. Brami
A1 N. Roche
A1 P-M. Preux
YR 2002
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/20/4/806.abstract
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.