Prevalencia de bronquitis crónica, asma y obstrucción al flujo aéreo en una zona urbano-industrial de Cataluña

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of chronic bron-chitis, asthma and airflow limitation in the general popula-tion of the urban-industrial área in and around the town ofSabadell (Catalonia, Spain), and to assess its degree of asso-ciation with smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.METHODS: Transversal study of 642 men and women bet-ween 20 and 70 years of age listed on census rolls. The stan-dardized questionnaire of the American Thoracic Societywas used to interview 576 subjects (90%). Tests of torcedspirometry with bronchodilation were administered to 497individuáis (77%).RESULTS: The prevalence of chronic bronchitis was 11.6%(21% of men and 2.7% of women). Asthma had been diag-nosed by a subjecfs doctor in 3.3% of the sample (2.1% ofmen and 4.4% of women). The prevalence of several asth-ma-related symptoms was higher. Dyspnea with wheezingwas reported by 10.6% ofthe population (11.4% ofmen and9.8% of women); wheezing within the past year was repor-ted by 38.2% (45.4% of men and 31.4% of women). Theprevalence of airflow limitation (defined as FEV| < 80%with an FEV,/FVC Índex < 70%) in the population samplewas 7.2% (10.4% of men and 4.1% of women); in men aged60 to 70 years, however, the prevalence was 30.8%. Exposu-re to secondhand smoke was related to the presence of chro-nic coughing (OR = 4.6) and wheezing (OR = 1.8), but notto significant spirometric changes.CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of respiratory symptomsand airflow limitation is high in our área, particularlyamong men and oider patients (60 to 70 years oíd). Like ac-tive smokers and ex-smokers, subjects who have been expo-se d to secondhand smoke are at greater risk of developingrespiratory symptoms